President Lai Ching-te said Nov. 5 that Taiwan is committed to promoting cooperative projects with Paraguay to create the greatest possible well-being for the allied peoples.
Lai made the remarks while meeting with a delegation led by Basilio Gustavo Núñez Giménez, president of the Paraguayan Congress and Senate, at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. The president first thanked members of the contingent for their long support of Taiwan, and expressed appreciation to Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña Palacios for backing Taiwan’s international participation, as evidenced by Peña’s remarks during the U.N. General Assembly earlier this year.
According to Lai, Taiwan and Paraguay collaborate in areas spanning agriculture and animal husbandry, education, infrastructure, public health and medicine, and women’s empowerment. He added that he hopes delegation members will continue to support Taiwan, jointly resist authoritarian expansion and promote global democracy, peace and prosperity.
In response, Núñez said the trip’s goal is to reaffirm the two countries’ 67-year friendship, adding that Paraguay’s steadfast commitment to Taiwan remains unchanged. He also conveyed from President Peña the message that Paraguay is Taiwan’s steadfast partner in the shared pursuit of prosperity, as well as the consensus within the Congress that countries should enjoy the freedom of navigation, and it opposes escalation of regional tensions in any form.
The day before the meeting, Taiwan and Paraguay held their second tourism cooperation conference in Taipei City, during which the two sides extended a letter of intent to strengthen collaboration.
Signed by Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui and Paraguayan Minister of Tourism Angie Duarte de Melillo, the renewed agreement focuses on advancing digital, inclusive and sustainable development in the tourism industries of both countries.
According to the TA, Duarte’s itinerary in Taiwan includes attending the 2024 Taipei International Travel Fair and touring Taiwan’s various tourist attractions such as the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area. (YCH-E)
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