Remarks of President Alejandro Giammattei of Republic of Guatemala at the Legislative Yuan
April 25, 2023
H.E. You Si-kun, President of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan);
H.E. Tsai Chi-chang, Vice President of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan);
H.E. Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Honorable Members of the Legislative Yuan;
Distinguished guests;
Friends from the press;
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good morning!
I am honored to be able to visit the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to convey the most sincere greetings to H.E. President Tsai Ing-wen, members of the Legislative Yuan and reiterate the rock solid friendship fo the people and government of the Republic of Guatemala to your great country. I want to once again thank you for your invitation.
I wan to thank for giving me this opportunity to address in the Legislative Yuan to reiterate our attachment of great importance of Guatemala to our friendship.
When I visited Taiwan in the capacity of the president-elect in October 2019, I explicitly state that Guatemala and Taiwan will be longstanding partners. As I stand here, I want to testify to this fact.
I want to ensure you that there is no solid friendship than old friends like us.
According to the documents, our diplomatic ties started in 1909.
Our relations continued to deepen afterwards. The Republic of China set up Consulate General in Guatemala in 1933 to start bilateral cooperation.
Both sides then had mutual establishment of embassy in 1960 respectively. Dear friends, please allow me stress that there is no solid friendship than old friends like us. As longstanding strategic partners, please allow me to reiterate my belief.
Ladies and gentlemen:
Over the past few decades, we maintain longstanding relations, not only in diplomatic relations but also official interactions. Through cooperation and exchanges, our mutual trust and friendship are further enhanced.
Only through solidarity can we respond to today’s political turmoil, economic crisis, catastrophic climate change and threats to global peace and stability.
I want to urge the international community and free world, we need to devote ourselves to request the respect the territorial integrity of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
We need to be united to support this country.
We need to be united to support this country that has long been threated by the other side of the Taiwan Strait.
Guatemala is a peace-loving country. Therefore, I urge to terminate the horn of war. I urge to end the hostility and war of the region and the rest of the world. The people in these regions are living in fear and restlessness due to arms conflicts, which are the results of the authoritarianism, ambition and refusal to settle disagreements with dialogue. This is not the right way to settle issues. Didn’t we learn lessons from history? Didn’t we forget? When did we lose our mind?
Today, I am proud to reiterate that as the only friendly allies of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Central America, Guatemala holds its firm stance. At the same time, Guatemala is the largest and most stable economy in the region.
Over the past three plus years, our government with its unprecedented economics stability to promote offshore manufacturing strategy to create itself a first-class investment destination.
With the collaboration of the executive and legislative branches and the business sector, we strengthen this offshore manufacturing strategy by formulating and passing new laws to provide a more convenient business environment and judicial protection for investors.
This year, after the two international credit rating agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s conducted assessments in our country, Guatemala’s credit rating has been upgraded to BB with stable outlook. The result is credited to the correct macroeconomic policy, cautious fiscal policy and fund management. All of these policies are based on real and measurable foundation and laid a solid foundation for Guatemala’s economic credit rating.
With its close economic and trade relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan), Guatemala underscores and assists Far Eastern New Century in its assessment of future investment in Guatemala. In addition, there are businesses ready to invest in Guatemala and are conducting field trip in the largest Taiwanese company LAKYMEN.
Currently, both countries are preparing to sign an MOOU on offshore manufacturing investment to attract Taiwanese businesses to Guatemala.
In March this year, we received a delegation organized by Taiwan External Trade Development Council to explore business opportunities. At the same time, the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala will organize a delegation to visit Taiwan to explore business opportunities to introduce the strengths of Guatemala’s investment environment and Guatemala Moving Forward project, which is to promote our export and to attract foreign direct investment so that our partners could enter the Central American market through their investment in Guatemala.
These moves to strengthen bilateral vibrant economic and trade relations have been recognized by President Tsai’s fruitful visit to Guatemala from March 31 to April 2 this year.
The Republic of Guatemala and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have side and diversified cooperation, including infrastructure, agriculture, education, medicine, information and communication technology, small and medium enterprises, security, transportation, culture and strengthening institutions. From 2013 to 2021, the Republic of China (Taiwan) provided nearly $90 million financial cooperation aid to the Republic of Guatemala.
Over the past 15 years, your government and our friendly allies in Asia provide scholarship for Guatemala students to earn bachelor, master and doctoral degrees. For this, I am truly grateful. Because these scholarships help to upgrade the talent training and expertise. These students are also our academic ambassadors to Taiwan.
Many infrastructure projects that we promote in our government, such as the public hospital in the province of Chimaltenango, which is recognized the best medical institution in Central America and the refurbishment and extension of the building for newborns in San Juan de Dios Hospital in the capital of Guatemala are the two major parts of the projects. We are grateful for what you have done for us.
If we cannot promote economic and social development, enhance peace and prosperity, what else can we establish a solid, strong and long friendship?
Similarly, Guatemala’s stance has remained unchanged to support and recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan) as an independent country to represent the real China. As such, based on the United Nations inclusiveness and universality principles, Guatemala supports you to participate in the United Nations and its specialized agencies.
I am from the other side of the Pacific. I travel from afar to reiterate the principle of our foreign policy. This is the concrete action of our staunch support to you and our pledge to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity, and out firm opposition to foreign aggression.
By upholding the same spirit, I was the first head of state from Latin America to visit Ukraine in July last year. Ukraine has been suffered since Russian aggression in February 2022.
I want to thank the Legislative Yuan for conferring the Medal of Honor for Parliamentary Diplomacy upon me, for which I will be always proud of. Meanwhile, I pledge that I will continue to support and promote the friendship between the Republic of Guatemala and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Let our voice be heard in every corner of the world.
When other countries turn their direction because of the change of situation, Guatemala remains unchanged.
When other counties put interests above friendship, Guatemala remains unchanged.
When other countries distort their understanding of the correct concept, Guatemala remains unchanged.
We remain unchanged because justice is at stake.
We remain unchanged because rights are at stake.
We remain unchanged because this is a long friendship, and no other friendship can be as rock solid as this one.
Thank you!
