The upcoming visit by a delegation from the Paraguay Chamber of Deputies is welcomed by the government and people of Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jan. 7.
Set to arrive Jan. 8, the group will be led by Speaker Carlos Maria Lopez Lopez and comprise Teofilo Espinola Peralta, Edgar Espinola Guerrero and Rodrigo Daniel Blanco Amarilla, who are chairs of the social development, national defense and intelligence, and youth development committees, respectively.
During its five-day stay, the group will receive an audience with President Tsai Ing-wen and meet with Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun and Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, as well as attend a banquet hosted by Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Tah-ray Yui.
The delegates will also call on the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Mainland Affairs Council, International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) and Taiwan External Trade Development Council.
They will additionally tour key cultural and social facilities including Taipei 101 and National Palace Museum in the capital, the ministry said.
According to the MOFA, Lopez is an unwavering friend who voiced strong opposition when China conducted live fire military exercises in waters surrounding Taiwan last August. The speaker reiterated that as a reliable ally, Paraguay will stand in unity with the people of Taiwan.
With formal diplomatic ties spanning more than 65 years, Taiwan and Paraguay continue to expand their cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, the MOFA said.
The parliamentarians’ visit will help bring the South American ally up to speed on the cross-strait situation and Taiwan’s economic, political and social development while promoting further exchanges between the two sides, the ministry added. (SFC-E)
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