President Ma Ying-jeou and Mrs. Ma at 3:20 p.m. (5:20 a.m., May 30, Taipei time) traveled to Guatemala's National Palace of Culture where Guatemala President Álvaro Colom had specially arranged a welcome with full military honors for them. President Colom and Mrs. Colom were waiting at the door to greet President Ma and Mrs. Ma. A band played the national anthems of the two countries and President Colom formally welcomed President Ma, after which President Ma made remarks in which he expressed his gratitude to President Colom and the government of Guatemala for their warm reception. He also reiterated the importance he places on the friendship and alliance between the two countries.
After completing his remarks, the two heads of state reviewed the color guard and walked over to the Peace Monument. President Colom removed old roses that had been placed in the palms of the Peace Statute. President Ma then replaced the roses, which symbolize peace, with fresh ones. After completing this ceremony, the two leaders returned to the dais. In a stately atmosphere, each introduced the officials from their respective countries. The two leaders and their wives climbed the stairs to the second floor for a joint picture as a momento of the visit.
President Ma and President Colom engaged in discussions after the completion of the military ceremony. This marked another opportunity for talks after President Colom made a visit to Taiwan in October of last year to attend the ROC's National Day festivities. President Colom introduced to President Ma the Cuatro Balam project in the El Mirador site of Guatemala's Petén region. A cultural park that will protect artifacts of the Maya civilization is being created in the area. The two leaders watched a short film on the project.
In addition, in a show of solidarity between the two countries, President Ma and President Colom signed a joint declaration after their discussions. The declaration indicated that the leaders of the two nations are satisfied with the close cooperation and friendship between the governments and peoples of the two countries, and reiterated their commitment to a further strengthening of cooperative relations in the areas of politics, foreign affairs, economics and trade, technology, and culture.