On June 5th, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Lai Ching-te, welcomed the President of the Republic of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, with a grand military ceremony. Lai Ching-te expressed his hope for continued exchange and cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala on the basis of mutual benefit and assistance. President Arévalo emphasized the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries and outlined new directions for future cooperation to further enhance the development of the Guatemalan-Taiwanese relationship.
In the morning at 10:30 a.m. on the 5th, President Lai Ching-te held a grand military ceremony in the Presidential Office to welcome the President of the Republic of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, and his delegation for their first visit to Taiwan. Following the firing of 21 gun salutes and the playing of the national anthems of both countries, President Lai and President Arévalo delivered their respective speeches.
President Lai Ching-te expressed his gratitude for President Arévalo and his delegation’s visit, which symbolized the deep friendship between the two nations. He conveyed the warmest welcome on behalf of the government of the Republic of China and all the people of Taiwan.
President Lai mentioned the celebration of the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries last year, highlighting the mutual support and fruitful cooperation in various fields such as healthcare, education, culture, technology, trade, which have accumulated significant achievements. In the future, Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to promote plans in line with international trends on the basis of mutual benefit and assistance, strengthen youth exchange programs and scholarships, actively cultivate talent in high-tech industries like ICT, and promote the prosperity of both nations.
He pointed out that despite the geographical distance between the two countries, the people’s ideals and values are closely connected, and he believed that with President Arévalo’s support, bilateral exchanges and cooperation will be even closer and more diverse, ushering in a better chapter. He also extended best wishes for a successful and fulfilling visit.
In his speech, President Arévalo expressed his honor to visit the beautiful country of Taiwan on behalf of the Guatemalan government and people, and he appreciated the warm welcome symbolized by the grand military ceremony, reflecting the respect and strong friendship between the two nations. This visit coincided with the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries. The delegation included the Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Economy, Chief of Presidential Staff, and Director of the News Bureau, aiming to chart a new course for bilateral relations.
In recent years, the relationship between Guatemala and Taiwan has flourished on the basis of mutual understanding and cooperation, with significant progress in various areas contributing to economic and social development. Both countries have been working together in promoting public health, education, agricultural technology, and infrastructure, and the future holds further strengthening of bilateral ties on the solid foundation of the past good relations.
President Arévalo expressed his desire to outline new directions for bilateral cooperation towards expanding economic collaboration, establishing economic and trade alliances, and promoting investments to benefit the people of both countries. He thanked the people of Taiwan for their assistance over the past 90 years, reiterated Guatemala’s unwavering support for Taiwan, and extended a hand of friendship to the Taiwanese people through this visit, hoping that both nations will continue to stride forward on the path of mutual benefit and prosperity.
Subsequently, President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin held a bilateral meeting with President Arévalo at the Presidential Office. The two leaders signed a memorandum of understanding on semiconductor cooperation and witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between the two nations. President Lai hoped to deepen the friendship between the two countries, creating more opportunities for cooperation and contributing to the development of democracy globally and regional prosperity and stability.
President Arévalo stated that over the past 90 years, Guatemala and Taiwan have always stood side by side, sharing experiences and dreams. The two countries will work together to pursue prosperity, happiness, and dignified living, serving as a bridge for cooperation and dialogue between Central America and Asia, and a hub for the development of human civilization. He also expressed hope for the continuous deepening of the friendship between the two countries, enhancing the well-being of the people, and becoming advocates for world peace and prosperity.
President Arévalo noted that the gathering was based on common values such as democracy, freedom, and serving the people. The two governments will continue to work together, supporting each other and enabling smooth progress on the paths of democracy, freedom, and justice. He emphasized that the Guatemalan government will always be Taiwan’s ally and believed Taiwan to be the most reliable partner for Guatemala on the path of democratic and economic prosperity. He hoped that this visit would mark the first step for the governments and people of both countries on a new journey.