President William Lai (賴清德) today met with Nery Abilio Ramos y Ramos, president of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala, at the Presidential Office in Taipei.
Lai and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) received Ramos and his delegation this morning.
Lai thanked Guatemela for its continued support of Taiwan’s participation in international bodies.
Photo: CNA
Ramos has signed pro-Taiwan resolutions on behalf of Congress and issued a statement rejecting China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758, which states that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the only legitimate government of China.
The Guatemalan Congress passed two legislative resolutions this year, one from the board of directors and one from the speaker, calling on the UN to recognize Taiwan’s right to participate in multilateral institutions and organizations.
Lai also expressed his condolences after a series of earthquakes that struck Guatemala in the past few weeks.
Guatemala has been an important partner of Taiwan for the past 90 years, with bilateral cooperation from healthcare to industry, education to women’s empowerment, Lai said. Guatemala first established ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) in 1934 when the ROC ruled China.
He hoped that the two would continue to uphold values of democratic freedom and promote regional and global prosperity and development, he said.
Ramos visited Taiwan last July, discussing possibilities to enhance bilateral cooperation with the President in the Presidential Office.
One year later, Ramos has again led a cross-party congressional delegation to Taiwan, demonstrating Guatemala’s continued support for Taiwan and further strengthening the two countries’ long-standing friendship, Lai said.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo visited Taiwan last month, during which the two presidents signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would boost cooperation in the semiconductor field to help Guatemala’s microchip sector.
They further signed an MOU to establish a framework for political consultations, which would ensure regular strategic coordination on key issues.
Taiwan is also continuing to provide semiconductor training and specialized technical programs, while encouraging Taiwanese businesses to use Guatemala as a strategic base for overseas markets, Lai said.
The relationship between Taiwan and Guatemala is a model for long-term friendship and cooperation amid an increasingly complex global landscape, Ramos said.
This latest visit aims to continue discussions to deepen cooperation in fields such as the economy, technology, agriculture and culture, he said.
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