Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the afternoon of April 25, President Tsai Ing-wen, accompanied by Vice President Lai Ching-te, met with President Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla of the Republic of Guatemala for bilateral talks following a welcome ceremony with military honors, a decoration ceremony, and a state banquet earlier in the day. President Tsai thanked President Giammattei for having spoken out on Taiwan's behalf several times on the international stage, and mentioned that in the face of China's recent military exercises, Guatemala has once again taken a stand in staunch support of Taiwan. President Tsai expressed hope that Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to support each other and achieve more for our peoples through cooperation.

A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows:

When I visited Guatemala earlier this month, President Giammattei cordially received our delegation and told me, "Guatemala is your home." That warm sentiment will continue to live in our hearts. I want to take this opportunity to thank President Giammattei for his staunch support for Taiwan. Likewise, Taiwan will be a warm and welcoming home for all of you.

Taiwan and Guatemala have a robust partnership. During my trip, President Giammattei and I visited the National Hospital of Chimaltenango, one of the cooperative achievements of our two countries that is protecting the health of the local people while also driving development.

Our shared vision is to promote bilateral economic and trade relations. Since I took office in 2016, our bilateral trade volume has steadily grown each year. Last year, Guatemala's embassy in Taiwan also established a commercial counselor office to further deepen economic and trade exchanges with Taiwan.

Guatemala is currently Taiwan's fourth-largest source of coffee imports. Together with the Guatemalan government, we are also sponsoring a month-long celebration of Guatemalan coffee culture and promoting Guatemalan coffee through designated cafés and a coffee truck that will travel around Taiwan. Tomorrow, President Giammattei and I will attend this year's promotional event.

Since President Giammattei took office in 2020, he has spoken out on Taiwan's behalf several times at international venues. In face of recent Chinese military exercises, Guatemala has once again taken a stand and given Taiwan staunch support, and I want to express my deepest gratitude.

As President Giammattei has said, "Come rain or shine, we will always be there with you." I hope that Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to support each other and achieve more for our peoples through cooperation. I also hope that President Giammattei can take more than just one suitcase full of emotions and good news from this trip back to Guatemala.

President Giammattei then delivered remarks, saying that as he said upon arrival, he and all the people of Guatemala are deeply honored by the invitation to visit Taiwan, and that through this trip, he hopes to exchange views regarding mutual cooperation and to further enhance bilateral political, economic, and cultural dialogue and exchanges.

President Giammattei said that Guatemala is Taiwan's staunch and unwavering Central American ally, and that this always has been, is, and always will be true. He added that Guatemala supports Taiwan's territorial integrity and that its commitment to friendly diplomatic ties with Taiwan will not change. He noted how Taiwan has always stood by whenever Guatemala faced major problems; and that likewise, Guatemala has always stood by Taiwan, emphasizing that such reciprocity is the real meaning of friendship.

President Giammattei expressed his hope that this trip will give something back to Taiwan for the help given to Guatemala, and will add new pages to our history of mutual assistance. When he visited Taiwan in October 2019 as president-elect, President Giammattei said, he had already decided to consolidate bilateral cooperation, establish a strategic alliance, and strengthen bilateral diplomatic relations.  

President Giammattei stated that since establishing official diplomatic ties in 1934 and subsequently setting up respective embassies in November 1960, Guatemala and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have had a friendly and cooperative relationship, much like brothers. He thanked Taiwan, and expressed his utmost gratitude for the technical cooperation that Taiwan has provided to Guatemala, as well as for the scholarship and preferential loan programs.

President Giammattei mentioned that although Guatemala is currently doing its utmost to strengthen democracy and consolidate national institutions through its modernized government, many serious challenges remain to be addressed and overcome. However, he said, the global pandemic has not been an obstacle to the government's reform efforts, because Guatemala is forever dynamic.

President Giammattei expressed his belief that the outstanding economic and social results achieved by the Republic of China (Taiwan) have proven to the international community that a nation's level of development is determined by its culture of cooperation, unity, and diligence.     

President Giammattei also took the opportunity to offer a special thanks to Vice President Lai for the friendship and unconditional support he has always shown for Guatemala. During his tenures as mayor of Tainan City and as premier, Vice President Lai not only emerged as an exemplary political leader, but also vigorously promoted and attracted investment by foreign firms and strengthened the economy, policy goals that match his own priorities since taking office in January 2020, President Giammattei said.

President Giammattei encouraged President Tsai to continue to show the world this administration's outstanding achievements, promote Taiwan's continued economic and social progress, uphold democratic values, and become a model for countries around the world. He also said that the world must maintain and expand its commitment to and support for Taiwan's sovereign independence and autonomy, as well as uphold the conviction that the national flower and flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) should shine at the United Nations, with Taiwan possessing full rights to representation and membership.   

President Giammattei closed his remarks by stating that today, more than ever, the world needs Taiwan to take its place on the global stage, because Taiwan is a model of national development and progress, a paragon of international justice and dignity, and a shining example of courage and strength. We need Taiwan, he said, and the people of Guatemala will always stand with Taiwan.

The delegation, accompanied to the Presidential Office by Guatemala Ambassador Oscar Adolfo Padilla Lam, also included Congressional President Shirley Joanna Rivera Zaldaña; Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores; Minister of Public Finance Edwin Oswaldo Martínez Cameros; Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Edgar René de León Moreno; and Minister of the Economy Janio Moacyr Rosales Alegría.