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Taiwan, Guatemala ties must benefit both: Berger

Guatemalan President Oscar Berger Perdomo said on Tuesday that Taiwan-Guatemala ties must be mutually beneficial and that neither party should be disadvantaged.

Berger made the remarks at the presidential palace during a joint news conference with Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), who is on a three-day visit in the central American country.

Asked whether Guatemala would take concrete action to support Taiwan's desire to take part in world bodies, including the UN, Berger replied that each country's sovereignty must be fully respected.

He stressed that Guatemala would step up two-way ties with Taiwan on a wide range of fronts as there still was a lot of room for mutual exploration.

After Taiwan and Guatemala signed a free trade agreement, two-way trade increased to US$150 million per year, a jump from the previous level of about US$2 million per year when he assumed the presidency, Berger said. He also expressed hope that more Taiwanese industries would invest in Guatemala.

Berger said that Taiwan would offer 25 scholarships for Guatemalan students to study in Taiwan and was also assisting in building an expressway in Guatemala.

Taiwan-Guatemala ties have to be built upon mutual benefits, with neither side a loser, Berger said.

Commenting on Berger's proposal of turning Quetzal Port into a free trade zone, Lu hailed the idea and said she would suggest that relevant Taiwanese authorities assess the feasibility of bilateral cooperation in the project.
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