Guatemalan Ambassador to the US Alfonso Quinonez Lemus on Wednesday welcomed President Tsai Ing-wen’s planned visit to his country, and reaffirmed its friendship with Taiwan.
“Taiwan is Guatemala’s best friend, and Guatemala is Taiwan’s best friend,” Quinonez quoted Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei as saying.
Quinonez was speaking at an event hosted by the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
He said he would like to see the two countries’ ties bolstered, and hopes other countries realize the benefits brought by positive relations with Taiwan, such as in the areas of trade and investment.
Tsai is to planning to fly to the US on Wednesday next week to stay in New York for three days before heading to Guatemala, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
She is scheduled to meet with Giammattei and have discussions with Taiwanese expatriates, before traveling to Belize on April 3, flying to Los Angeles on April 4 and returning to Taiwan on April 7, it said.
Separately, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) yesterday said that Tsai’s itinerary in the US is still being arranged.
Wu was responding to a lawmaker during a legislative session after being asked about Tsai’s potential meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles and her possible speech at the Hudson Institute in New York, where she is expected to receive the institute’s annual Global Leadership Award.
Asked about the timing of the visit, which comes as Honduras is apparently preparing to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Wu said that it is “not a coincidence” and that the schedule was carefully planned.
Additional reporting by CNA
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