Paraguayan President Santiago Pena’s state visit to Taiwan this week is a testament to the solid friendship between the two nations that cannot be undermined by Chinese coercion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday.
MOFA spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) made the remarks at a regular news conference, six days after the New York Times reported that Beijing is pressuring Paraguay to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.
China had targeted the South American nation with cyberattacks and bribed Paraguayan politicians to sever ties with Taipei, the Times said.
Photo: Huang Ching-hsuan, Taipei Times
Pena is leading a delegation of business representatives to Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, showing that the international community “has seen through China’s empty, grandiose promises ... and condemns its barbaric behavior toward Taiwan,” Hsiao said.
The solid friendship between Taiwan and Paraguay rests on shared universal values and years of bilateral collaboration, including promoting smart medical care and training a technology industry workforce in the South American nation, he said.
President William Lai (賴清德) is to meet Pena to discuss investments, international cooperation in industries and other policy measures to strengthen bilateral relations, he said.
In related news, Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs Director-General Yeh Chih-cheng (葉至誠) said a Paraguayan trade delegation is to arrive today.
The delegation consists of 39 Paraguayan business representatives from the food processing, energy and technology, and finance sectors, he said, adding that food delegates alone number 19.
Paraguay is an agricultural powerhouse with a stable energy supply, creating opportunities for economic technological collaborations with Taiwan on food processing, cold chains, packaging, smart manufacturing and supply chain management, Yeh said.
The two nations have compatible economies that enable mutually beneficial cooperation in food processing, smart city, renewable energy and green transition, he said.
The ministry is to hold a summit for Taiwan-Paraguay cooperation in the meat industry at Regent Taipei on Friday, he said, adding that the event would focus on face-to-face talks between officials and entrepreneurs.
Yeh also detailed the operations at the ministry’s newly established Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Economic and Trade Office established in March.
Ministry officials and experts from the private sector form part of the office staff, who are working closely with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, he said.
Citing Eswatini as an example, Yeh said the office is introducing marulas from the African nation to Taiwanese businesses to consider possible uses of the exotic produce, he said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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