The government attaches great importance to Taiwan’s relations with ally El Salvador and will keep expanding exchanges for mutual benefits, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu July 13.
“We are grateful for President Salvador Sanchez Ceren’s ongoing support of Taiwan,” Wu said. “Under his leadership, I am confident our friendship and cooperation with El Salvador will continue to deepen.”
The minister made the remarks while meeting with Sanchez Ceren in the capital San Salvador. In addition to exchanging views on a wide range of issues of mutual concern, Wu presented the head of state with a letter from President Tsai Ing-wen congratulating the Central American nation on the canonization of Archbishop of San Salvador Oscar Romero Oct. 14 in Rome.
In response, Sanchez Ceren reaffirmed his commitment to the friendship between the countries that began 85 years ago. He also thanked Taiwan for helping advance his policy agenda across the areas of education, productivity enhancement and public security under the framework of existing joint programs.
Prior to his visit with Sanchez Ceren, Wu shared a “very warm meeting” with Foreign Minister Carlos Castaneda. He said the government’s resolve to support El Salvador’s development has never been stronger, and expressed appreciation for the nation’s unwavering support of Taiwan’s participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization, U.N. Framework on Climate Change and World Health Assembly.
Wu’s other activities since arriving in El Salvador include talks and a dinner banquet with Vice President Oscar Samuel Ortiz Ascencio; a working lunch with Norman Noel Quijano Gonzalez, president of El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly, and representatives from all four of the country’s major political parties; in-depth discussions with Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo, secretary-general of Central American Integration System (SICA); presiding over a ceremony for recipients of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taipei City-headquartered International Cooperation Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) tertiary education scholarships; and inspecting progress on collaboration projects.
The minister is on his first official trip abroad since taking the helm of the MOFA in February. He is scheduled to arrive July 16 in ally Belize and will meet with Prime Minister Dean Oliver Barrow and other senior officials, as well as receive the Order of Distinction from Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington in recognition of his efforts to bolster bilateral ties and promote people-to-people exchanges. (SFC-E)
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