Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the morning of October 8, President Lai Ching-te met with President of the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay Raúl Luis Latorre Martínez. In remarks, President Lai thanked Paraguay for its longstanding support for Taiwan’s international participation. The president stated that Taiwan and Paraguay have a brotherly bond and are united by a shared commitment to freedom and democracy. He added that Taiwan and Paraguay have had fruitful collaboration across a wide range of areas, including education, agriculture and animal husbandry, infrastructure, women’s empowerment, healthcare, and technology. He expressed hope of working with Paraguay to meet the challenges of the new era, safeguard democracy and freedom, and contribute even more to global peace and prosperity.

A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:

I would like to start by giving a warm welcome to Chamber President Latorre and the cross-party delegation of representatives he is leading to join our National Day celebrations in Taiwan. Your presence demonstrates the Paraguayan Congress’s strong support for Taiwan and further strengthens the friendship between our two countries. In 2023, I attended President Santiago Peña Palacios’s inauguration as special envoy for former President Tsai Ing-wen, during which time I had the opportunity to dine with Chamber President Latorre and Chairman Juan Manuel Añazco Vera of the Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs Committee, which left a deep impression on me. Last year, Chamber President Latorre also visited Taiwan to attend the inauguration of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. I am very pleased to meet and connect with him again in Taiwan today.

I want to thank Chamber President Latorre and all the distinguished guests for their longstanding support of Taiwan. Chamber President Latorre, in particular, has advocated for Taiwan at numerous international venues, and the Paraguayan Congress continues to demonstrate staunch support for Taiwan’s international participation through declarations and other measures, for which the people of Taiwan are deeply moved. Also, in this year’s General Debate at the UN General Assembly, President Peña spoke out in support of Taiwan, emphasizing that doing the right thing is priceless, and that Taiwan must have a place in that forum. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to express our sincere gratitude.

In recent years, with the support of the Paraguayan government and Congress, Taiwan and Paraguay have had fruitful collaborations across a wide range of areas, including education, agriculture and animal husbandry, infrastructure, and women’s empowerment. Through our joint efforts, a Health Information System has been implemented in over 1,000 public healthcare facilities in Paraguay to improve the quality of medical services. To date, Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University has trained 174 outstanding young Paraguayans, and the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park – recently relaunched and upgraded – has drawn attention from Taiwanese companies, facilitating greater industrial collaboration between our countries. Going forward, we will continue to promote various collaborative initiatives to maximize the well-being of both our peoples.

Taiwan and Paraguay have a brotherly bond and are united by the shared values of freedom and democracy. In the early 1990s, both our countries embarked on the path to democratization, ushering in a new chapter through democratic elections. Today, in the face of authoritarian expansion and a rapidly changing international landscape, I look forward to our countries working together to meet the challenges of this new era, safeguard freedom and democracy, and contribute even more to global peace and prosperity. May the friendship between our countries continue to thrive and both nations enjoy lasting prosperity.

Chamber President Latorre then delivered remarks, stating that he is leading a 16-member delegation, which is the largest and most representative from Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies to ever visit Taiwan. He emphasized that the delegation, which includes members from across the political spectrum, sends a clear message: Paraguay will always stand with Taiwan as a friend and an ally because Taiwan is committed to upholding the values of freedom, sovereignty, and democracy, which are principles on which Paraguay will never compromise. He noted that Paraguay will continue to advocate for Taiwan in international venues.

Chamber President Latorre said that the friendship and partnership between Paraguay and Taiwan have grown stronger with time, and there remains great potential for further collaboration and development. He highlighted Paraguay’s leading strengths in clean energy and agriculture, noting that Paraguayan pork, now exported to Taiwan tariff-free, has become highly popular among Taiwanese consumers. He added that Paraguay is a nation full of opportunities, with advantages such as a low-tax environment, a young and dynamic population, and strong potential for development in the AI industry. He expressed confidence that future collaboration with Taiwanese industries will open new horizons for both countries.

Chamber President Latorre stated that Paraguay, having endured the trials of war, deeply values peace, and it was for this reason that Paraguay was among the first to condemn China’s military incursions in the airspace and waters around Taiwan. Morally and geopolitically, he continued, Paraguay firmly stands alongside like-minded nations in defending the shared values of freedom, democracy, and sovereignty. Although Taiwan and Paraguay sit on opposite sides of the world, he said, the two have never been closer than they are today. Chamber President Latorre emphasized that all the delegation members hope to further deepen the friendship and brotherly ties between our two countries.

Also present at the meeting were President of the Paraguayan Parliamentary Commission of Friendship - Republic of China (Taiwan) Rodrigo Daniel Gamarra Krayacich and his wife, members of the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay including Carlos María Arrechea Ortiz, Marcelo Rafael Salinas González, Daniel Fernando Centurión González, Hilda María Del Rocío Vallejo Ávalos, Miguel Ángel Del Puerto Silva, Rodrigo Daniel Blanco Amarilla, Héctor Rubén Figueredo Notario, María Constancia Benítez de Benítez, Graciela Aguilera Ruiz Díaz, Alejandro Darío Aguilera Elizaur, and Sebastián Emilio Remesowski Squef. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Paraguay Ambassador Darío Filártiga Ruiz Díaz.