President Lai Ching-te (賴淸德) of Taiwan emphasized the critical necessity of strengthening cooperation between Taiwan and Paraguay to counter the threat of authoritarian expansionism in a rapidly changing world. President Lai made this statement yesterday while welcoming a parliamentary delegation led by Raul Latorre, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay, at the Presidential Office in Taipei.

In the meeting, President Lai stressed that together, the two nations can overcome the challenges of a new era, safeguard freedom and democracy, and make greater contributions to global peace and prosperity. He expressed gratitude to the delegation for visiting Taiwan to attend the Republic of China (ROC) Founding Day celebration (Double Tenth National Day) tomorrow, calling it an act of goodwill and friendship.

President Lai recalled his attendance at the inauguration of Paraguayan President Santiago Peña in 2023 when he was Vice President, where he had dinner with Juan Manuel Añazco, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies. Furthermore, he expressed warmth by noting that President Latorre is a long-time friend of Taiwan who has voiced support for Taiwan at numerous international events and attended the inauguration of President Lai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) last year.

Gratitude Expressed for Paraguay's Staunch Support 

President Lai also expressed thanks for Paraguay’s steadfast support for Taiwan. He shared that he was moved by President Peña's address at the UN General Assembly general debate earlier this year, where he supported Taiwan's participation in the UN and other international organizations, called for Taiwan's full membership, and framed it as a matter of justice. The Paraguayan Congress has likewise repeatedly supported Taiwan's efforts for meaningful participation in international organizations.

In response, President Latorre affirmed that Paraguay stands firmly with Taiwan, reaffirming Asunción's commitment to deepening the fraternal bond between the two countries. Paraguay has demonstrated a strong will to maintain relations with Taiwan, including the recent expulsion of a Chinese diplomat by the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry for meddling in internal affairs after the diplomat urged a severance of ties with Taiwan.

Large Foreign Delegation to Attend National Day Celebrations 

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced that a total of 204 high-ranking foreign dignitaries will attend the National Day celebrations tomorrow. This includes the Governors-General of diplomatic allies Froyla Tzalam of Belize and Cyril Charles of Saint Lucia, as well as delegations from friendly nations such as Paraguay.

The attendees consist of 120 members of visiting foreign delegations and 74 foreign representatives currently stationed in Taiwan and their spouses. Among the visiting delegations, 55 are from the Asia-Pacific region, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean, and 17 from Europe. Additionally, 16 foreign journalists and 6 representatives from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, in which Taiwan has participated as a non-regional member since 1992, will also be present. Furthermore, a Swedish parliamentary delegation, a delegation of Japanese local political leaders, and a group of participants from the European Values Partnership program are expected to join the celebrations, drawing international attention.