Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

At about 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11 local time (6:00 a.m. on January 12 Taipei time), President Tsai Ing-wen and her accompanying delegation, who are currently in Central America on a trip codenamed the "Ing-Jie Project," went together with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales to tour the city of Antigua and take in a traditional performance outside the Palace of the Captains General.

Antigua is a famous old city ringed by mountains, with the noted Volcan de Agua ("volcano of water") visible in the distance to the south. The old city is full of baroque architecture, and is one of the country's most important tourist destinations.

After hosting a state banquet for President Tsai at the National Palace of Culture, President Morales accompanied her to Antigua to tour the old town and take a commemorative photo at the Santa Catalina Arch, a local landmark. President Tsai used a 360-degree camera to shoot a video with President Morales, who served as her guide as she toured shops where all sorts of distinctive local indigenous handicrafts were sold.

President Tsai and President Morales then proceeded to the Palace of the Captains General in Antigua, where they watched traditional folkdance and xylophone performances and tasted Guatemalan coffee and Ron Zacapa ("Zacapa Rum"). Everyone had a very fun time.

During the state banquet hosted by President Morales earlier, President Tsai thanked the government and people of Guatemala for the excellent hospitality that her delegation had been shown, particularly the sumptuous noon banquet. She said that the delegation members all felt quite honored, and expressed confidence that they would continue to enjoy the warmth and enthusiasm of the Guatemalan people toward Taiwan during the remainder of their itinerary.

President Tsai once again stressed that, for Guatemala, the Republic of China is a good partner in a distant land that hopes to continue its cooperation and enhance its exchanges with Guatemala in such areas as political, economic, and social ties as well as national development. President Tsai closed her remarks by raising a glass, wishing success and prosperity for Guatemala, good fortune for the government of President Morales, and a lasting alliance between the two countries.