President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) welcomed Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo with full military honors on Thursday, marking the Guatemalan leader’s first state visit since he took office in January of last year. The Guatemalan delegation includes senior officials from foreign affairs, economics, and presidential offices.
The ceremonial welcome occurred at the Presidential Office due to rainy weather in Taipei. President Lai highlighted the strong cooperation between the two countries across various sectors, including medical, education, technology, and trade. Both leaders acknowledged the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations celebrated last year, with Taiwan and Guatemala maintaining one of the longest-standing diplomatic partnerships in Latin America.
President Arévalo reaffirmed Guatemala's unwavering support for Taiwan and expressed hopes that this visit would set new directions for bilateral cooperation. He emphasized the importance of expanding economic partnerships, establishing trade alliances, and promoting investment opportunities between the two countries.
The leaders outlined plans to strengthen scholarship programs and foster talent development in high-tech and information technology sectors. Despite the geographical distance, both leaders emphasized their nations’ shared values and commitment to advancing the social and economic development of both countries.