President Tsai meets Central American Integration System Secretary General Vinicio Cerezo
While meeting on the morning of May 30 with a delegation led by Central American Integration System (SICA) Secretary General Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo, President Tsai Ing-wen said she hopes that Taiwan, upholding the principles of "steadfast diplomacy" and "mutual assistance for mutual benefits," can enhance cooperative exchanges with SICA, share developmental experiences, and contribute to regional integration in Central America.
In remarks, President Tsai noted that Secretary General Cerezo and Chief of Staff of the SICA General Secretariat Olinda Salguero visited Taiwan six years ago, and said she's sure they'll see a much different Taiwan during this trip. On behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, she extended a warm welcome to the delegation.
Commenting on relations between Taiwan and SICA, President Tsai stated that the two sides share a long-standing commitment to common values. Taiwan has been a dependable cooperative partner for SICA since 1992, implementing more than 120 joint projects over the past 26 years.
President Tsai said that Taiwan values its friendship with SICA, and once filmed a short video to convey her best wishes on Central American Integration Day. She also thanked Secretary General Cerezo for promptly expressing condolences after a strong earthquake struck Taiwan's Hualien County.
President Tsai then mentioned that when Secretary General Cerezo was the president of Guatemala, he devoted much effort and made significant contributions to regional peace. Since taking over as the secretary general of SICA, he proposed "five pillars of regional integration" and emphasized the need to improve infrastructure and bring more youth into the SICA organization. He put regional integration on a new course, winning widespread international praise.
President Tsai said she was pleased to have this opportunity to meet Secretary General Cerezo in person. When she visited the SICA General Secretariat last year, she toured some of the cooperative projects the two sides have worked on over the years, and saw many of the outstanding successes of our Taiwan Technical Missions.
Taiwan may not be a large country, said the president, but has outstanding technology and talent. If our Taiwan Technical Missions were garment manufacturers, she said, they wouldn't be like a massive enterprise producing vast quantities of standard-sized clothes. Instead, we're more like a master tailor who really communicates with friends to provide customized clothing, tailor-made to meet their needs.
For many years, said the president, our medical and technical missions have become deeply involved in the countries of Central America, providing agricultural technologies suited to the climates and local conditions of each country, designing healthcare services that meet local needs, and helping each country train highly skilled technicians. Much has been achieved, she said, adding that Taiwan cares more about customized quality solutions than mere quantity.
The president concluded her remarks by expressing hope that Taiwan, upholding the principles of "steadfast diplomacy" and "mutual assistance for mutual benefits," can enhance cooperative exchanges with SICA and contribute to regional integration in Central America.