Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the morning of November 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Rubén Ramírez Lezcano of the Republic of Paraguay. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of Paraguay for its firm support for Taiwan’s international participation and speaking up powerfully for Taiwan. He expressed hope that the cooperative projects jointly promoted by our two countries will continue on and grow, producing optimal benefits and providing maximum well-being to the people of both our countries.

A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:

I would first like to extend a warm welcome to Minister Ramírez and his delegation. This past May, Minister Ramírez accompanied President Santiago Peña Palacios in attending the inauguration ceremony of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. Now, I have been in office for half a year, and you are already making a repeat visit, which demonstrates your own friendship with Taiwan and the robust diplomatic ties between our two nations.

I thank President Peña and the government of Paraguay for their firm support for Taiwan’s international participation. During the United Nations Summit of the Future and the General Debate during the UN General Assembly, President Peña spoke up powerfully for Taiwan, which truly touched us all. In addition, Minister Ramírez personally signed letters strongly advocating for Taiwan at this year’s General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and COP29. For these gestures of support, I extend the deepest appreciation on behalf of the people of Taiwan.

In the past few years, Taiwan and Paraguay have cooperated very closely in many fields, including education, medicine and public health, agriculture and animal husbandry, and women’s empowerment. I hope that the cooperative projects jointly promoted by our two countries will continue on and grow. Only then can these projects produce optimal benefits and provide maximum well-being to the people of both our countries.

I also hope that Minister Ramírez and our other distinguished guests, as a result of this visit, will develop a deeper understanding of Taiwan, and that after returning home you will all share your experiences here to further enhance mutual understanding and friendship between our countries. Lastly, I would like to ask Minister Ramírez to convey my best regards to President Peña. I wish you all a smooth and successful visit.

Minister Ramírez then delivered remarks, saying that this is his 11th trip to Taiwan since joining diplomatic service and his fifth trip to Taiwan as minister of foreign affairs. On each visit, he noted, he has found that Taiwan has become more prosperous, more modern, and more advanced. He then conveyed President Peña’s sincerest greetings to the people of Taiwan and expressed to President Lai the Republic of Paraguay’s firm, unwavering, and constantly deepening friendship and support.

Minister Ramírez stated that our two countries have jointly developed a partnership of strategic cooperation, aiming to help our peoples prosper and our nations become stronger. Pointing to the fields of public health, education, agriculture and animal husbandry, transportation, technology, and economy and trade, he said that we have quickly and effectively established exchanges and cooperation, proving the importance of our bilateral ties.

Minister Ramírez thanked Taiwan for extending valuable cooperation and support to Paraguay for such a long time now, showing the region and the world the profound significance of our 67 years of diplomatic ties. On behalf of President Peña, he also told President Lai that diplomatic relations between Paraguay and the Republic of China Taiwan will continue deepening, uninterrupted, and that Paraguay will continue to speak up for Taiwan at all international venues.