Taipei, March 26 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian affirmed Tuesday the long-lasting friendly relations between the Republic of China and Paraguay and invited his Paraguayan counterpart to visit Taiwan as soon as possible.
Receiving Paraguayan House of Representatives Speaker Juan Dario Monges and a 10-member delegation at the Presidential Office, Chen said that the ROC and Paraguay share the same concepts of democracy, freedom and human rights, have the same desire for regional peace and stability, as well as the common desire for the benefits brought about by bilateral trade and economic cooperation, which together constitute a firm foundation for the long-lasting bilateral friendship.
The people of the ROC and Paraguay continue to work hard together for their common goals based on the existing relations, Chen said.
For his part, Monges extended Gonzalez's greetings to Chen and thanked the ROC for the assistance it has given to his country. "Although Taiwan and Paraguay are separated geographically, the people of the two nations see each other like family members," the parliamentary leader of the South American country said.
Both the government and people of Paraguay will continue supporting the ROC's bid to participate in international organizations, he went on. At the invitation of the ROC government, Monges arrived in Taiwan March 24 for a five-day visit.