《TAIPEI TIMES》Guatemalan minister reaffirms support for Taiwan

Staff writer, with CNA

Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Bucaro yesterday reaffirmed his country’s support for Taiwan while encouraging dialogue between Taipei and Beijing to ease tensions.

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During a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文）, Bucaro said that his five-day visit to Taiwan is testament to Guatemala’s support for the nation in an increasingly volatile world.

Guatemala believes that a nation’s people are entitled to lead peaceful lives and that such rights, along with national sovereignty, are not exchangeable, said Bucaro, who visiting Taiwan for the first time since taking office in February.

He also encouraged Taipei to engage in dialogue with Beijing, saying that the Guatemalan government firmly believes that talks are necessary to defuse tensions.

Guatemala will “always support Taiwan” and has showed solidarity with Taiwan since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1933, Bucaro said.

That support is not just verbal, as it includes concrete actions such as trade exchanges and other efforts to deepen the relationship, he said.

Taiwan and Guatemala are “like-minded” countries that would continue to engage in dialogue and build their cooperation to the benefit of their people, he said.

Tsai thanked the Guatemalan government for voicing concern over China’s recent military exercises around Taiwan, which started after a trip to Taipei by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Aug. 2 and 3.

Democratic countries must reinforce their partnerships in the face of authoritarian expansion, Tsai said, adding that Taiwan is looking forward to further cooperation with Guatemala in the areas of economic transformation and women’s empowerment, among others.

Bucaro is also scheduled to meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu （吳釗燮）, and visit several government agencies and organizations, including the Mainland Affairs Council, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and the National Defense University, before his departure on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES