President Lai meets delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martínez of the Republic of Guatemala
On the afternoon of May 21, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martínez of the Republic of Guatemala. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan and Guatemala not only enjoy a deep friendship, but are also important partners, adding that our collaboration has been very fruitful in such areas as medicine and public health, the economy and trade, and infrastructure. He also expressed hope that Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to support each other in the international community, together defend the values of freedom and democracy, jointly contribute our respective professional expertise to the globe, and become a force for good in the world.
In his remarks, President Lai noted that Foreign Minister Martínez, as the representative of President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala, traveled to Taiwan to attend his and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao’s inauguration ceremony. On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), he extended a sincere welcome to the distinguished guests.
President Lai pointed out that Taiwan and Guatemala not only enjoy a deep friendship, but are also important partners, adding that the two countries have long pursued joint projects for shared prosperity and development, and that our collaboration has been very fruitful in such areas as medicine and public health, the economy and trade, and infrastructure.
President Lai said that President Arévalo had just conveyed his well wishes over videoconference not long before, and that improving bilateral economic relations is a vision that he and President Arévalo share. In recent years, he pointed out, two-way trade between Taiwan and Guatemala has seen steady growth, and moving forward, the Taiwan government will encourage overseas Taiwanese businesses and provide them with assistance in an effort to build up Guatemala as a springboard for development of Latin American markets so that the two countries can contribute more to each other’s prosperity and development.
President Lai thanked the government of Guatemala for its vigorous and longstanding support of Taiwan's international participation. Guatemala’s friendship toward Taiwan, he said, enables Taiwan to engage more confidently with the world and the world to engage with Taiwan. In the face of expanding authoritarianism, he added, we hope that Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to support each other in the international community, together defend the values of freedom and democracy, jointly contribute our respective professional expertise to the globe, and become a force for good in the world.
President Lai also mentioned that in the videoconference he had invited President Arévalo and his wife to visit Taiwan, and said he hopes, through the visit, to strengthen bilateral relations and advance our cooperation so as to benefit both our peoples.
Minister Martínez then delivered remarks, saying he was deeply honored to come to Taiwan once again as the representative of Guatemala to attend the inauguration ceremony for the president and vice president. He expressed hope that fraternal ties between our two countries deepen even more as a result of reciprocal visits.
Minister Martínez stated that cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala is an important force for promoting development in the two countries and noted that, particularly in the fields of agriculture, medicine, and public health, we have cooperated without interruption for many years. He mentioned that he was especially grateful for the scholarship and education programs that have afforded outstanding Guatemalan youth with opportunities to study in Taiwan.
Minister Martínez noted that in addition to previous bilateral cooperation projects, there are still many other fields in which our cooperation would be very worthwhile. For example, he said, with bilateral trade continually growing, people in Guatemala strongly hope to see more Guatemalan products in the Taiwanese market. The minister also expressed thanks for Taiwan’s investments in Guatemala, which have not only generated job opportunities but have also helped retain talent in his country.
Minister Martínez stated that our two countries have a common vision and shared democratic values. He expressed his hope that both countries and our future will become even better, and that President Lai can visit Guatemala at an appropriate time. In closing, he once again conveyed the best wishes of the government and people of Guatemala to President Lai, Vice President Hsiao, and all of Taiwan.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Guatemala Ambassador Oscar Adolfo Padilla Lam.