The delegation led by Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) met with Senate President Basilio Giménez today (Nov 20). Senate President Giménez invited the delegation to his office, and Vice President Chiang presented a photo taken in Senate President Giménez’s last visit to Taiwan in November 2024. Both reminisced on fond memories of the visit. After a brief talk, Senate President Giménez led the delegation to the Hall of Peace for more exchanges with 15 Paraguayan senators from different parties, including Dionisio Amarilla, First Vice President of the Senate, Hermelinda Avarenga, Second Vice President of the Senate, and Antonio Barrios, member of the Foreign and International Affairs Commission and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. The meeting was livestreamed, attracting coverage from many media outlets.
Vice President Chiang expressed his profound honor in representing the Legislative Yuan and President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) and leading this cross-party delegation. All members of the delegation were visiting Paraguay for the first time, showing that support for the friendship of both countries was a unifying consensus among all political parties, and embodying the most significant consensus of the Legislative Yuan. Sharing his thoughts on the visit so far, he felt delighted for how much the bilateral cooperation has achieved. He stressed that the 68-year friendship is built on the foundation of cooperation, ranging from education to healthcare. These efforts are “heartwarming and quintessentially Taiwanese.” He looked forward to turning dialogue into tangible results, and institutionalizing parliamentary exchanges so that the bilateral relationship would be rooted in institutions that are representing the people. He thanked Senate President Giménez once again for his hospitality and invited him to visit Taiwan again, expressing his hope that Taiwan would become a second home to Senate President Giménez and all other senators. After all, the relationship between Taiwan and Paraguay transcends simple friendship, and has evolved into a steadfast brotherhood.
Senate President Giménez reciprocated by expressing intent to promote congressional diplomacy since senators are representatives of the people, as well as deepening the bilateral relationship. He also stated his hope to implement direct flights between the two countries to facilitate travel. He reiterated that the solid friendship of Taiwan and Paraguay is based on common values in human rights, democracy, and freedom. He hopes that the bond will be steadfast and enduring. First Vice President Amarilla also agreed that Taiwan and Paraguay are two countries with hearts beating as one, and that Paraguay will always support Taiwan. Both sides exchange views on geopolitics, bilateral cooperation projects, etc. in a candid and cordial atmosphere. Later on, Senate President Giménez guided the delegation to visit the assembly hall. The event lasted for 90 minutes and concluded after exchanges of commemorative gifts and a group photo. The delegation parted with a shared anticipation for their next reunion.
In the afternoon, the delegation attended a luncheon organized by Asociación China en Asunción Paraguay. Vice President Chiang sent his warmest regards to the overseas compatriots, and wittily claimed that the trip was no easier than a triathlon. After three days into the visit, he was delighted to meet with fellow Taiwanese in Paraguay at last. He described people living in overseas as flying kites. No matter how far a kite flies, it is always connected to Taiwan, and that because of the concerted efforts made by overseas compatriots, the world is able to see Taiwan for its strengths and virtues. He stressed that Paraguay is Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in South America, making the friendship between the two countries particularly important. Apart from preserving this friendship, this visit also worked to seek continuous support from overseas compatriots for Taiwan. He stated his hope that the visit could be more than an exchange, and would initiate new cooperation in the future. Lastly, he invited all overseas compatriots to treat the Legislative Yuan as their home and welcomed them to visit at any time.
After the luncheon, Vice President Chiang and the delegation visited Blue Design, a Paraguayan company of denim garments. It is a success story of TaiwanICDF’s Project to Strengthen Capacity to Support Development of MSMEs. Lisa Acevedo, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Blue Design, presented how the 3D pattern design technology from Taiwan assisted the company in increasing productivity. She noted that the adoption of the technology effectively lowered time consumption and personnel costs, increased sales, and even resulted in successful exports to the Americas, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Japan. The delegation also visited the design, pattern design, and production departments. The visit lasted for one hour and came to a close after an exchange of commemorative gifts and a group photo.
Later that night, Senate President Giménez hosted a dinner banquet of six tables for the delegation and guests at the Congress garden. Accompanied by a live performance from a symphony orchestra, the banquet was pleasant and delightful. Serenaded with music, both sides continued the dialogue and exchange of views from the afternoon. Vice President Chiang thanked Senate President Giménez for the hospitality. He was deeply moved by the 68-year friendship between both countries, and pleased that although it was their first visit to Paraguay, the delegation members felt at home. Lastly, he wished Paraguay all the best in the coming World Cup. The banquet concluded successfully following two hours of pleasant and heartwarming exchanges, leaving both hosts and guests deeply heartened by the encounter.
