President Tsai Ing-wen said Nov. 27 that the government is committed to expanding Taiwan-Paraguay cooperation and exchanges across the board as part of efforts to further strengthen bilateral relations.
 
The two countries share over 60 years of diplomatic ties, Tsai said. This relationship has intensified as evidenced by two presidential visits to Paraguay since May 2016 and President Mario Abdo Benitez’s trip to Taiwan last year for National Day celebrations, she added.
 
Tsai made the remarks while meeting with Paraguay Defense Minister Bernardino Soto Estigarribia at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
 
According to Tsai, Soto has played an invaluable role in promoting military exchanges between Taiwan and the South American country. This includes supporting a variety of undertakings such as the annual training program involving high-ranking members of Paraguay’s armed forces and police services staged in Taiwan by the Ministry of National Defense, she said.
 
Tsai said the program, which includes participants from Taiwan’s other allies, is essential in building a solid foundation for collaboration in related areas and advancing sustainable development.
 
Other examples of successful joint initiatives, Tsai said, are a high-profile orchid exhibition held by the country’s embassy and Taiwan Sugar Corp. in Paraguay, a mechanism for ministerial dialogue on economic affairs, a mutual assistance agreement on customs, and a memorandum of understanding on science and technology cooperation.
 
Tsai said robust two-way ties are also in part due to the government’s nonnegotiable adherence to steadfast diplomacy, which promotes mutual assistance for mutual benefits. Case in point is Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu’s visit to Paraguay last month, she added.
 
Wu led a delegation of business representatives from Taiwan eyeing opportunities in agriculture, livestock and green energy. He also met with Abdo and his counterpart Antonio Rivas Palacios. (Ray-E)
 
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