President Tsai accepts credentials from new Guatemalan Ambassador Willy Alberto Gómez Tirado
On the morning of August 6, President Tsai Ing-wen accepted the credentials of new Guatemalan Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Willy Alberto Gómez Tirado at the Presidential Office. The president welcomed Ambassador Gómez to his new post in Taiwan, and expressed hope that he will inject new vitality and create new breakthroughs in Taiwan-Guatemala relations.
In remarks, the president said she was very happy to receive the credentials of Ambassador Gómez at the Presidential Office. On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China, the president extended a sincere welcome to the new ambassador.
President Tsai stated that Taiwan and Guatemala share a commitment to the universal values of freedom and democracy. The diplomatic relationship between the two nations dates back 85 years and continues to grow stronger with each passing year. The year before last, President Tsai led a delegation to Guatemala, and was accompanied by President Jimmy Morales on a visit to the ancient capital of Antigua. The warmth of the people there and the tremendous successes of our bilateral cooperation, she said, were quite impressive.
President Tsai mentioned that President and Mrs. Morales led a delegation to Taiwan this past April, and that she was very happy to have the opportunity to accompany her old friends on a visit to the old quarter and a tea factory in the town of Daxi, Taoyuan City. The trip gave her guests an excellent feel for Taiwan's cultural past.
The president pointed out that over the past three years, reciprocal visits by our heads of state and other senior officials have yielded increasingly close cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and Guatemala. In areas like healthcare, education, and agriculture, we have continued to see new developments in bilateral cooperation, and our economic and trade ties have steadily progressed.
Guatemala's high-quality coffees are very popular in Taiwan, and coffee imports from Guatemala hit an all-time high of more than US$12 million last year. With the assistance of Ambassador Gómez, she said, Taiwan and Guatemala will certainly be able to achieve new cooperative successes.
Ambassador Gómez, said the president, has founded a number of companies. He has a background in the fields of education, technology, and business, and enjoys the full trust of President Morales. Hopefully, she said, Ambassador Gómez will be able to tap into his knowledge and experience, and that he will inject new vitality and create new breakthroughs in Taiwan-Guatemala relations.
President Tsai concluded by once again welcoming Ambassador and Mrs. Gómez to Taiwan. The president encouraged them to see Taiwan as a home away from home, and wished the ambassador success in his new post.
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) was also present at the ceremony.