President Chen Signs a Joint Communique with Guatemalan President Portillo
Taipei, April 9 (CNA) The presidents of the Republic of China and the Republic of Guatemala vowed Tuesday to further strengthen and diversify the cooperation between their two countries.
In a joint communique issued by ROC President Chen Shui-bian and Guatemalan President Alfonso Antonio Portillo prior to Portillo's departure Tuesday, the two heads of state said it is necessary for the two countries to further strengthen mutual cooperation and diversify their cooperative programs and spheres.
In the communique, Chen offered his sincerest appreciation to the Guatemalan government for its staunch support for the Republic of China's bids to join the United Nation, the World Health Organization and other international organizations.
Chen also gave a thumbs-up to Portillo for his capable leadership in upholding Guatemala's freedom and democratization, pushing for regional peace in Central America, solving the Guatemala-Belize territorial dispute and improving the welfare of the Guatemalan people.
For his part, Portillo stressed that the ROC is a sovereign state entitled to every right and obligation to take part in international organizations and activities.
Portillo congratulated Chen for Taiwan's recent accession to the World Trade Organization and reiterated the imperative and importance of Taiwan's joining the U.N., the WHO and other international groups, as well as Guatemala's firm support for this "just cause."
The two leaders jointly stressed the two countries' commitment to help eradicate terrorism of all kinds from the globe. They also stressed the imperative of holding a summit meeting among the presidents of the ROC and its allies in Central America. They agreed to further push for multilateral dialogue among the ROC and its allies to make regional integrity possible.
To help diversify cooperative programs between the two countries, Chen and Portillo said in the communique that the two sides can start with a drinking water development project, a waste water processing project and a reforestation project, which will pragmatically help raise the standard of living of the Guatemalan people.
They also reiterated the significance of bolstering mutual investment between the two countries. In this regard, according to the communique, the ROC government agreed to exhort Taiwan businessmen to invest in Guatemala or relocate part of their business and industrial operations to the Central American nation in an attempt to help create job opportunities, which would in turn raise the Guatemalan people's quality of life and help develop the nation's economy.