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Paraguay to stand with Taiwan: Visiting president-elect

ROC Central News Agency

07/12/2023 04:42 PM

Taipei, July 12 (CNA) Paraguayan President-elect Santiago Peña said during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in Taipei on Wednesday that his administration would continue to stand with Taiwan and strive to boost bilateral relations.

Peña, who is scheduled to be sworn in next month, made the pledge at the meeting participated in by some of Paraguay's future officials, including Foreign Minister-designate Rubén Ramírez Lezcano and Finance Minister-designate Carlos Fernández Valdovinos.

During a meeting earlier the same day with Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), who is also the Democratic Progressive Party's nominee in Taiwan's January 2024 presidential election, Peña also pledged his "full support" for Paraguay's diplomatic ties with Taiwan, according to a Presidential Office statement.

Maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan is in the best interests of Paraguay, Peña said, adding that he would continue promoting bilateral relations based on the 66 years of friendship between Taiwan and Paraguay.

The current visit by the Paraguayan delegation from July 11 to 15 served to demonstrate that Paraguay and Taiwan would continue to insist on their shared values, ideals, and goals despite facing many challenges, Peña told Tsai, without elaborating.

While thanking Taiwan's government for its decades-long backing of Paraguay in the financial and economic realms, Peña called for Taipei's continued support as his administration works to reduce poverty and develop the country.

The new administration's priorities include providing better health care and education to young people in Paraguay and creating 500,000 jobs in the next five years by attracting foreign investment and rolling out public infrastructure projects, Peña said.

At the same time, he also called for Taiwan's help with a program that will allow some 200,000 Paraguayans to get loans to improve their living conditions, without going into detail.

Meanwhile, Tsai, delivering her remarks ahead of Peña, said she looked forward to seeing more cooperation between Taiwan and Paraguay in the future in various areas, such as electric vehicles, food processing and textile.

In the face of authoritarian expansion, she added, Taiwan and Paraguay should work together with democratic partners to contribute to the peace and stability of the world.

(By Teng Pei-ju)

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