The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to expand Taiwan-US collaborative efforts in Central America in a bid to boost ties between Taiwan, the US and Guatemala, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Tuesday during a meeting with Guatemalan Minister of Public Finance Jonathan Menkos.
Menkos and Guatemalan Vice Minister of Internal Administration and Systems Development Debora Eunice Alvarado Franco, along with four others, are in a Guatemalan delegation visiting Taiwan from Monday through tomorrow, the ministry said yesterday.
Guatemala hopes to further understand how Taiwan has achieved digitization of its public offices and provided its industries with the technical know-how that contributed to their competitive edge on the global scene, especially as Guatemala is in the process of building infrastructure — highways, railways and ports — and is seeking to achieve financial stability, the ministry quoted Menkos as saying.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Menkos reiterated the stable friendship between Taiwan and Guatemala, and acknowledged Taiwan’s long-term contributions to his country, the ministry said, adding that he firmly believes both countries could promote regional economic prosperity, and achieve a win-win situation on the foundations of democracy, freedom and peace that the two nations share.
Taiwan-Guatemalan diplomatic ties have stood for 92 years, during which both sides have achieved much through mutual collaboration in public health, investment, finance, women’s rights, education and culture, Lin said.
Under Taiwan’s integrated diplomacy strategy and its Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project (榮邦計劃), the nation is helping Guatemala implement its Ruta del Chip, or Chip Road Project, through technology sharing, exchanges in technological management and the establishment of talent-fostering programs for Guatemala, Lin said.
The efforts of the administration of Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo to enforce financial transparency and create a “clean” government are in line with Taiwan’s democratic government and core values, Lin said, adding that the ministry would continue to encourage Taiwanese companies to consider Guatemala as an option for overseas investment.
Citing a clause on Taiwan-US cooperation in third countries in the Joint Statement on the Pax Silica Declaration and US-Taiwan Economic Security Cooperation, which was signed on Jan. 27, Lin said the ministry would expand Taiwan-US cooperation projects in Central America to benefit Guatemala.
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