President Tsai Ing-wen said Aug. 11 that Taiwan is committed to deepening ties with Paraguay and creating opportunities for further exchange, cooperation and bilateral trade.
Taiwan and Paraguay share the values of freedom and democracy as allies, Tsai said.
Tsai made remarks while accepting the credentials of Carlos Jose Fleitas Rodriguez, Paraguay’s new ambassador to the ROC (Taiwan), at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
According to Tsai, the two sides are close trade partners and bilateral trade has accelerated since the Taiwan-Paraguay Economic Cooperation Agreement took effect in 2018. This is reflected by the country’s record high amount of 29,000 tons of premium beef imports from the South American ally last year, Tsai added.
The countries’ years of cooperation have also produced achievements across a spectrum of sectors, for example, the ongoing Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University project, she added.
Tsai also took the opportunity to ask Fleitas to convey appreciation to President Mario Abdo Benitez for speaking in support of Taiwan at international events. Democratic partners must strengthen collaboration and jointly defend their shared values and way of life to counter continued authoritarian expansion, she added.
In response, Fleitas said the preservation of human rights and the fundamental values of freedom, equality, justice and the rule of law comprise the unshakeable foundation of the two sides’ partnership. It is hoped that Taiwan can become a member of the international system for its valuable contributions to the global community in overcoming challenges like the pandemic, he added.
The two countries are highly complementary in economic development, Fleitas said, adding that Taiwan has helped lay a foundation for Paraguay’s technological development and the South American country is an ideal investment destination for local businesses.
Fleitas pledged to continue advancing economic and technical cooperation while increasing bilateral trade, adding that while geographically distant, the allies are closely linked by the shared pursuit of economic prosperity, social justice and peoples’ welfare. (YCH-E)
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