Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the afternoon of October 10, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation headed by President Jose Antonio Alvarado of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN). President Tsai thanked the PARLACEN for its staunch support over the years as Taiwan has sought fair treatment on the international stage and active participation in international bodies.

In remarks, President Tsai recalled that Mr. Alvarado conveyed his congratulations right after the result of Taiwan's presidential election was announced earlier this year. In addition, the fact that Mr. Alvarado came to Taiwan together with vice presidents of the PARLACEN to take part in the ROC National Day celebrations soon after attending the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly clearly demonstrates the depth of friendship toward Taiwan that exists among its Latin American diplomatic allies, for which President Tsai expressed her deepest gratitude.

President Tsai pointed out that Mr. Alvarado has a strong academic background and has performed outstandingly in both academia and the government. For years, he has been very concerned about many important issues that affect the development of human civilization, including environmental protection, climate change, and agricultural development. It so happens, said the president, that Taiwan has long been working hard on these very issues and has built up considerable experience, so she felt confident that the two sides would be able to have in-depth exchanges of views during this visit by Mr. Alvarado.

President Tsai stated that a very strong friendship exists between Taiwan and its Latin American diplomatic allies, and exchanges are close. The two sides have cooperated on a lot of projects over many years in such fields as rural development, agriculture, public health, and infrastructure. In the future, Taiwan will continue to enhance cooperation on all fronts, acting in line with the principle of mutual assistance for mutual benefits. Together, she said, we can create a better future for the people of our two sides.

Noting that Central America separates two oceans and connects South and North America while Taiwan is the hub of many Asia-Pacific shipping and aviation routes, President Tsai expressed hope that the PARLACEN can use its position as a regional parliamentary body to help link up companies from the two sides. This will enable Central American nations and the Dominican Republic to use Taiwan as a springboard to develop markets for their products in Asia, while Taiwanese firms can discover new business opportunities in Central America and the Caribbean region.

President Tsai stressed that she especially wanted to thank the PARLACEN for its staunch support over the years as Taiwan has sought fair treatment on the international stage and active participation in international bodies. She also urged Mr. Alvarado and the other visitors to continue using their political influence, speaking up for Taiwan in international venues, and supporting Taiwan in its efforts to join international bodies.

Also included among those in the delegation were PARLACEN vice presidents Carlos Roberto Montoya Castro, Celia Roslinda De Leon Maldonado, Julio Cesar Grijalva de Garcia, and Santiago de Jesus Rodriguez Pena.