Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

After a flight of more than six hours, President Ma, who is leading a delegation to South America and the Caribbean on a trip codenamed Project Congratulations and Friendship, arrived in Paraguay at 10:40 p.m. on August 13 Paraguay time (10:40 a.m. on August 14 Taipei time). After the aircraft came to a halt on the tarmac, ROC Ambassador to Paraguay Liu Der-li (劉德立) and the Paraguay Presidential Office's Chief of Protocol Amancio Lopez boarded the plane to welcome President Ma. Paraguay President Luis Federico Franco Gomez was at the airport to personally welcome President Ma, and the two were saluted by Paraguay's color guard. Although it is now winter in Paraguay, the welcome that President Ma received from overseas compatriot groups was nevertheless quite warm. The president received flowers from the group and shook hands with many of those on hand to welcome him.

President Ma and President Franco then retreated to a meeting room at the airport to hold brief discussions. President Franco stated that Paraguay is the ROC's only diplomatic partner in South America and also the ROC's staunchest ally. He expressed hope that this visit to Paraguay by President Ma and his delegation will further solidify the alliance between the two countries. In addition, while many delegations from throughout the world are in Paraguay for the inauguration ceremonies for president-elect Horacio Manuel Cartes, the delegation from the ROC is the only one that President Franco has personally welcomed at the airport. President Ma said he was deeply touched that President Franco had taken this unprecedented step to welcome him and his delegation to Paraguay, saying that this highlights the importance of the alliance between the two countries.

The delegation from the ROC will be in Paraguay for three days and two nights, during which time they will attend the inauguration ceremonies for president-elect Cartes and take part in other inaugural activities.