President Chen Presides over a Welcoming Ceremony in Honor of Guatemalan President Portillo
Taipei, April 6 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian presided over a welcoming ceremony at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall complex in downtown Taipei Saturday in honor of visiting Guatemalan President Alfonso Antonio Portillo Cabrera.
Portillo, who arrived in Taipei Friday for a five-day state visit, was accorded with full military honor, including a 21-gun salute, at the welcoming ceremony.
President Chen extended a warm welcome to Portillo, saying his visit would further boost exchanges and cooperation between the Republic of China and Guatemala.
Chen said he feels honored to meet with Portillo for a third time in the past year. They first met at an ROC-Central America summit meeting held in El Salvador last May. After the summit meeting, Chen made a state visit to neighboring Guatemala. "And then we met again today," Chen said, adding that Portillo's visit symbolizes the firm and cordial nature of ROC-Guatemalan relations.
Noting that the two countries share the common ideals of promoting freedom, democracy, human rights and economic prosperity, Chen said he is convinced that bilateral cooperation will be further expanded through frequent high-level exchanges.