Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

In the late morning hours of Friday, January 13 local time (early morning of January 14 Taipei time), President Tsai Ing-wen and her accompanying delegation, who were in Central America on a trip codenamed the "Ing-Jie Project," went to the Salvadoran Presidential House to be welcomed with military honors.

President Salvador Sanchez Ceren welcomed President Tsai with military honors at the Salvadoran Presidential House. After the national anthems of both countries were played and Salvadoran children presented traditional local handicrafts to President Tsai as souvenirs, the welcoming ceremony came to an end. The two heads of state then met for bilateral talks, engaging in a wide-ranging exchange of views on bilateral cooperation projects as well as trade and investment. They stressed that the two sides will continue to enhance diplomatic relations between Taiwan and El Salvador, which date back 83 years.

After that, President Tsai received the National Order of Jose Matias Delgado from President Sanchez and delivered remarks.

President Tsai thanked President Sanchez for inviting her to El Salvador. Noting that "seeing is believing," she said that El Salvador is a truly beautiful country. She and every member of her delegation, moreover, were deeply grateful for the high-level courtesy and warm hospitality accorded to them, and to receive the National Order of Jose Matias Delgado was a very special honor.

President Tsai stated that Jose Matias Delgado was a Salvadoran national hero, and the fact that President Sanchez would confer such a significant decoration upon her was an indication that El Salvador regards the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a close friend. President Tsai said this was quite moving, and thanked President Sanchez as well as the government and people of El Salvador.

President Tsai stated that she had benefitted a lot by coming to El Salvador and discussing philosophies of national governance with President Sanchez. Noting that President Sanchez often travels around the country on Saturdays to hold town halls with local residents and learn about the people's needs, President Tsai said she strongly endorsed this approach.

Taiwan and El Salvador have both lived through dark days in the past before establishing democratic governments. President Tsai expressed hope that she will have more opportunities in the future to engage in deep and wide-ranging discussions with President Sanchez about the development of democracy.

In concluding her remarks, President Tsai stressed that Taiwan and El Salvador have a deep friendship. In the future, she said, we will continue pursuing opportunities for cooperation and exchanges between the governments and peoples of the two countries, and will promote two-way economic and investment ties so that the people of both countries can enjoy the fruits of mutually beneficial ties.