On the morning of September 19, President Daniel K.Y. Han of the Legislative Yuan, accompanied by Vice President Johnny C. Chiang, Chair of the Republic of China-Paraguay Parliamentary Friendship Association Legislator Liao Wei-Hsiang, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Cheng-Hsu, Taiwan People's Party Legislator Lin Kuo-Chen, International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin, and Colonel Hugo Alberto Causarano Pereira from the Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay, met with Ambassador Carlos José Fleitas Rodríguez of the Republic of Paraguay to Taiwan and his delegation.

President Han first extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Carlos José Fleitas Rodríguez and Defense Attaché Colonel Hugo Alberto Causarano Pereira from the Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay, along with their delegation. He was later joined by Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for a group photo with the guests. President Han mentioned that Ambassador Carlos José Fleitas Rodríguez had previously accompanied President of the Senate of Paraguay Silvio Adalberto Ovelar Benítez during a visit to the Legislative Yuan on April 15, 2024, and expressed that meeting with the ambassador again today felt particularly warm and familiar.

President Han continued by stating that the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of Paraguay have maintained diplomatic relations for over 67 years since their establishment in 1957. Paraguay is Taiwan's most steadfast ally in South America, having long supported Taiwan and advocated for it in international forums. The relationship between the two countries can be described as enduring and ever-renewing. Taiwan began importing Paraguayan beef in 2020 and pork in 2022, and has since become the largest market for Paraguayan pork exports and the second-largest market for its beef exports. The cattle and pigs in Paraguay are raised in a natural environment, resulting in a tender and palatable taste that has won favor among the Taiwanese people. In the future, the Legislative Yuan will leverage the influence of its members to promote Paraguayan beef and pork products to people across Taiwan, helping more Taiwanese become acquainted with the high-quality livestock products from Paraguay.

President Han further stated that both the governments and people of Taiwan and Paraguay uphold the values of freedom and democracy. He expressed appreciation for the close educational exchanges between the two countries in recent years, emphasizing that talent is fundamental to national strength. Paraguayan students who come to Taiwan to study, upon returning to their country, contribute to Paraguay's development in both technological and cultural fields, thereby deepening the friendship between the two nations. President Han wrapped up by sharing his lasting impression of the warmth displayed during the visit of Senate President Silvio Adalberto Ovelar Benítez to Taiwan in April, where he extended an invitation for the Legislative Yuan to send a delegation to Paraguay. He highlighted the friendliness shared by both the Paraguayan and Taiwanese people and expressed his desire for more exchanges between legislators from both nations in the future to enhance collaboration across different sectors.

President Han specially prepared the newly launched "Legislative Yuan Edition Commemorative Sorghum Liquor," which has received widespread acclaim since its release during this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, to present to Ambassador Carlos José Fleitas Rodríguez. The President personally signed the bottle and invited Vice President Chiang to sign it as well, in appreciation of the long-standing support and friendship of the Paraguayan government and the ambassador towards Taiwan. Ambassador Carlos José Fleitas Rodríguez presented a commemorative plaque to President Han on behalf of Major General Roberto José Idoyaga Benítez, Chief of Staff of the Paraguayan Air Force Command, who participated in Taiwan's "2024 Advanced Spanish Language Course for Foreign Military Officers.”

During his speech, Ambassador Carlos José Fleitas Rodríguez began by expressing gratitude to President Han, Vice President Chiang, and representatives from various party caucuses for taking the time to meet with him. He conveyed the support and appreciation of President Santiago Peña Palacios and the government of Paraguay for Taiwan. Historical factors have tightly bonded the two nations, as both founders shared a common vision for their countries. Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China (Taiwan), admired the American Revolution, while José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco, who played a pivotal role in Paraguay's independence from Spanish colonial rule, revered the spirit of the French Revolution. Additionally, the colors of the flags of Paraguay and the Republic of China (Taiwan) are similar, reflecting a shared foundational ideology, despite their different meanings.   On the other hand, the people of both nations cherish peace, having experienced war, which demonstrated their courage in defending their territories and their indomitable spirit, setting an everlasting example. Both countries uphold universal values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Paraguay will continue to support the Republic of China (Taiwan) and make historically sound choices to express its determination to defend global democracy. It is believed that the bond of friendship between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Paraguay will remain steadfast and enduring.

During the bilateral talks, Vice President Chiang not only extended a warm welcome but also stated that Paraguay is currently Taiwan's most important diplomatic ally in South America and serves as a significant gateway for Taiwan in Central and South America. Therefore, the close cooperation and exchange between the two countries are particularly crucial. Shortly after Senate President Silvio Adalberto Ovelar Benítez of the Republic of Paraguay visited Taiwan in April of this year, the Legislative Yuan established the "Legislative Yuan Republic of China - Paraguay Parliamentary Friendship Association," chaired by Kuomintang Legislator Liao Wei-Hsiang. This association symbolizes the friendly relations between the two countries, with hopes for mutual visits between the parliamentarians of Taiwan and Paraguay to be realized as soon as possible.

Legislator Liao Wei-Hsiang expressed that he was deeply impressed by the enthusiasm shown during Senate President Silvio Adalberto Ovelar Benítez's invitation to visit Paraguay in April of this year. He believes that, based on the three generations of friendship between the two countries, there will be remarkable achievements in the future regarding cooperation in agriculture, technology, culture, and even sports exchanges. Legislator Liao also mentioned that Taichung City is expected to complete the Soccer Stadium in Taichung’s Nantun District next year, which will serve as a sports and recreation park. Once this stadium is completed, it will facilitate soccer exchanges between Taiwan and Paraguay.

Legislator Wang Cheng-Hsu emphasized that in today's escalating regional situation, Ambassador Carlos José Fleitas Rodríguez's visit demonstrates the strong ties between Taiwan and Paraguay. The two countries have historically collaborated closely in economic, trade, healthcare, and agriculture sectors. In recent years, significant progress has been made in healthcare cooperation between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Paraguayan government. Since 2016, the International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) has partnered with the Paraguayan Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare to develop an integrated Health Information System (HIS), which has now been implemented in 302 medical institutions in Paraguay by the end of 2023.On the other hand, amidst the challenging environment created by the Chinese government's ongoing efforts to suppress Taiwan's international space, we hope to have more international friends, like the Paraguayan government, providing support and assistance to Taiwan. This would enable Taiwan to offer relevant medical assistance to more countries. Legislator Wang further stated that in May of this year, he attended related events at the "77th World Health Assembly" in Switzerland alongside Vice President Chiang, continuing efforts to secure Taiwan's international participation. Additionally, during the "Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC)" annual meeting held in Taipei in July, a model resolution on UNGA Resolution 2758 was passed. He expressed his gratitude to allied countries that also support freedom, democracy, and peace, for their concrete actions in support of Taiwan.

Legislator Lin Kuo-Chen expressed his sincere gratitude to Ambassador Fleitas and the Paraguayan government for their steadfast support of Taiwan's participation in various international organizations and activities. He stated that Taiwan needs such a committed ally as Paraguay, as mutual support and cooperation between the two countries can create benefits for their peoples.

Both sides extensively exchanged views on various topics, including a tax exemption for livestock product imports, language and culture, the situation in the Taiwan Strait, participation in international organizations, and educational exchanges. The atmosphere was friendly and harmonious. The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes and concluded on a positive note with the exchange of commemorative gifts and a group photo.