The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Joseph Wu, led a delegation to the Republic of Guatemala in Central America on the 24th and 25th for a friendly visit. During the visit, the delegation met with President Bernardo Arévalo and Foreign Minister Carlos Martínez of Guatemala to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Guatemala.
This visit marks Minister Joseph Wu’s third visit to Guatemala, and the first time visiting in the capacity of Minister of Foreign Affairs. During his meeting with President Arévalo, Minister Joseph Wu expressed gratitude for Guatemala’s firm support of the Taiwan-Guatemala friendship. Taiwan is seen as a steadfast ally of Guatemala, assisting in the construction of hospitals, donation of medicines, medical equipment, firefighting gear, and supporting cooperative projects beneficial to the people of Guatemala.
Minister Wu stated that Taiwan will enhance bilateral economic and trade exchanges and industry cooperation to assist in upgrading Guatemala’s industries, in response to President Arévalo’s expectation of elevating the relationship between the two countries to a strategic partnership. Minister Joseph Wu and his spouse also attended a banquet hosted by President Arévalo and extended an invitation on behalf of President Tsai Ing-wen for a future visit to Taiwan to shape the vision of the next 90 years of Taiwan-Guatemala friendship.
During the visit, Minister Joseph Wu once again met with Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Martínez and attended a banquet hosted by the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Taiwan-Guatemala relations. In his speech, Minister Wu expressed special gratitude for Guatemala’s support this year in advocating for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and urged continuous support in upcoming climate change conferences and forums.
Furthermore, Minister Wu’s spouse accompanied him at the invitation of the First Lady of Guatemala, Lucrecia Peinado, visiting Sumpango to explore the local art and culture of kite-making workshops. They also visited the National Museum of Archaeology in Guatemala City, enjoyed local music performances, and witnessed traditional folk dances, enhancing cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Guatemala.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China emphasizes the strong and friendly relations between Taiwan and Guatemala, with high-level visits from Guatemalan officials throughout the year. Both countries have made significant progress in cooperation projects, which have been well-received and valued by the Guatemalan government. Minister Joseph Wu’s visit received warm hospitality and high regard from the Guatemalan government, contributing to the deepening of bilateral friendship.
In response to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s attempt to undermine Taiwan-Guatemala relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns such actions and reaffirms that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country. The United Nations Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan and does not equate to the “One China Principle” as claimed by the Chinese government. The diplomatic relations between Taiwan and its allies are based on mutual respect, equality, and sovereign rights.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates that the friendship between Taiwan and Guatemala is strong and cordial, with both governments promoting numerous cooperation projects across various fields that benefit the people. President Arévalo of Guatemala has consistently supported the friendship between Taiwan and Guatemala, expressing a desire to elevate the relationship to a strategic partnership.
During his visit to Guatemala, Minister Joseph Wu met with President Arévalo and several important ministers to inspect bilateral cooperation projects. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation and exchanges to further strengthen the friendly relations between Taiwan and Guatemala.