President Tsai Ing-wen said Feb. 16 that the government is committed to deepening cooperation with Paraguay to advance the development of both countries and the world as a whole.
According to Tsai, Taiwan and Paraguay jointly implemented a program to boost economic recovery and women’s empowerment in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2021. The program has already helped over 1,000 Paraguayan women obtain the vocational training and seed funding necessary to start businesses, she said.
Tsai made the remarks while receiving a delegation led by Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez and first lady Silvana Lopez Moreira de Abdo.
The South American ally’s president and first lady joined Tsai as participants in a forum on empowering women in Latin America and the Caribbean. Their sharing of Paraguay’s experiences in their remarks during the opening ceremony and forum discussions provided valuable suggestions for attendees, Tsai said.
Tsai also took the opportunity to thank Paraguay’s president, Foreign Minister Julio Cesar Arriola Ramirez and other senior government officials for backing Taiwan through concrete action, including voicing support for the country’s international participation.
In response, Abdo said Taiwan is more than an important ally; it is a strategic partner of Paraguay. Ties between the two countries are founded on the shared values of freedom, democracy and long-standing mutual cooperation rather than mere opportunity presented by global circumstances, he added.
Following the talks, Tsai and Abdo jointly witnessed the signing of a bilateral agreement on the training and exchange of diplomatic personnel. (DL-E)
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