《TAIPEI TIMES》 President lands in Belize, affirms diplomatic ties

/ Staff writer, with CNA

President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） arrived in Belize on Sunday after visiting Guatemala to shore up relations a week after Honduras switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing.

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Tsai and her delegation were welcomed at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport by Belizean Governor-General Froyla Tzalam, Belizean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration Chief Executive Officer Amalia Mai and Ambassador to Belize Lily Hsu （徐儷文）.

Tsai was also greeted by a military honor guard before heading to Belize Biltmore Plaza, where she attended a reception with about 300 Taiwanese expatriates.

The president thanked the group for their “hard work in Belize,” saying that their efforts had contributed to the strengthening of ties during 34 years of diplomatic relations.

As the COVID-19 pandemic had stymied travel for the past two years, her last visit to Belize was in 2018, Tsai said, adding that she was pleased to return before the end of her final term as president next year.

Tsai was yesterday scheduled to meet with Belizean Prime Minister John Briceno.

The two were expected to reaffirm bilateral ties after Honduras cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan to recognize China, reducing the number of Taipei’s diplomatic allies to 13.

Tsai was also expected to witness the signing of a bilateral technical cooperation agreement, deliver a speech at the Belizean National Assembly, tour the sites of joint projects between the two allies and attend banquets hosted by Briceno and Tzalam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Additional reporting by AFP

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES