President Ma Ying-jeou arrived in the Republic of Paraguay at 11:30 p.m. on August 13 (11:30 a.m. August 14 Taipei time). President Ma and his delegation arrived at Asuncion International Airport in the capital of Paraguay. President Ma will attend the presidential inauguration ceremonies for Paraguay President-elect Fernando Lugo on August 14.
After arriving and transiting in Los Angeles, California, President Ma and his delegation boarded a chartered flight to Asuncion. The aircraft stopped in Panama City, Panama briefly for refueling. ROC Ambassador to Panama Hou Ping-fu and Panama's Chief of Protocol boarded the airliner to personally welcome President Ma. Panama First Vice President Samuel Lewis Navarro was waiting at the airport to extend a welcome to President Ma. The president then led a delegation of ROC officials to meet with Panama President Martin Torrijos Espino and other high-ranking government leaders at a guest reception room at the airport. The leaders discussed bilateral relations and exchanged opinions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
After the short stop in Panama, President Ma's aircraft then took to the air for another six-and-a-half hours before reaching Paraguay. Republic of Paraguay Minister of Interior Libio Florentin represented the government of Paraguay in welcoming President Ma at the airport. ROC Ambassador to Paraguay David C. Y. Hu and Paraguay's Chief of Protocol escorted President Ma out of the airplane's door. President Ma then waved to embassy personnel, members of Taiwan's technical mission and their families, and overseas compatriots. President Ma was accompanied by Minister Florentin to review the troops, and received full military honors. President Ma then went over to speak with the overseas compatriots before delivering a short address.