President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of June 8 with Francisco Jose De Vargas Benitez, the Republic of Paraguay's minister of interior, and Mrs. De Vargas. In addition to extending a cordial welcome to the couple on their visit to Taiwan, the president also expressed hope for an enduring alliance and mutual progress and prosperity in the future.
In remarks, the president stated that in terms of land area, Paraguay is the largest of the ROC's diplomatic allies, and in terms of distance, the farthest away. Nonetheless, the geographical distance has not hindered their friendship and mutual exchanges have always flourished, he said.
The president mentioned that Minister De Vargas is a lawyer who previously served as chief prosecutor in the drug enforcement unit of the Attorney General's Office, and as head of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Secretaría Nacional Antidrogas, SENAD). His appointment as interior minister by Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes points to his outstanding performance in heading up law enforcement agencies and the importance and recognition of his abilities in this regard, the president stated.
President Ma said that he himself served previously as justice minister, and during his tenure strived to crack down on corruption, narcotics, bribery, and crime. Those efforts have been quite successful, with the president citing statistics showing that there were 490,000 criminal cases in the ROC in 2007, but only 300,000 last year, a drop of 37.5%. The number of criminal cases solved has also risen from 53.7% in 1995 to 86.1% last year, an increase of 32.4 percentage points, stated the president.
The president stressed that although Taiwan's population and number of motor vehicles have increased by over two million and eight million, respectively, compared with 20 years ago, the number of traffic accidents and deaths caused by drunk driving has declined by over 40% in each case, which shows that the efforts of the police have led to fewer traffic-related deaths. At the same time, the number of crimes has plunged and the percentage of solved crimes has risen significantly. Taiwan is safer and more stable now than at any time over the last 20 years, the president remarked.
The president then noted that ever since diplomatic relations were established 58 years ago, Taiwan and Paraguay have always maintained a loyal friendship.
The president also expressed his gratitude to the Paraguayan government for its longstanding efforts in speaking on behalf of the ROC in international venues and supporting our participation in the international community. In each of the past four years, Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies has passed resolutions urging the executive branch to support Taiwan's participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Paraguay's Chamber of Senators also passed likeminded statements both last year and this year, he said. In addition, Paraguay in 2013 and 2014 spoke on behalf of the ROC at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, expressing support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations. These gestures are the best proof of the amicable alliance between the two countries, the president said.
The ROC, the president stated, has sought to actively serve in the international arena in the roles of peacemaker and provider of humanitarian aid. The ROC government immediately donated US$100,000 in humanitarian assistance to Paraguay after it suffered devastating floods last year, and lent assistance in the construction of temporary shelters. Last November, we provided another US$100,000 to assist the Paraguayan government in procuring medicines to treat disaster victims.
The ROC has sought to work with Paraguay in the promotion of various projects to promote economic livelihood and improved lifestyles, including the Floriculture Project and the Aquaculture Project, and three projects that were initiated at the end of last year—the Pacu Fingerling Breeding and Cultivation Project, the Feed Production Project, and the Orchid Industry Development and Tissue Culture Plantlet Propagation Project. The ROC hopes these projects will boost the incomes of Paraguayan farmers and assist in improving the living environment for the public there, the president said.
President Ma commented that the ROC has worked in conjunction with the National Program of Poverty Reduction, which was launched by President Cartes in 2013, by cooperatively building affordable housing in Paraguay. It is expected that a total of 4,500 households will be established in 39 communities throughout 16 provinces in that nation, and construction of over 1,200 of these homes was completed last year. The ROC is also drafting a Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project in Paraguay to assist in establishing electronic medical records, improve hospital management, and reduce the amount of time patients have to wait to see a doctor or pick up prescribed medicines. This project will also be conducive to boosting the quality of care in remote areas, which the president said will enhance public wellbeing, strengthen bilateral interaction in the private sector, and boost mutual friendship.