Photo courtesy of CNA; Foreign Minister David Lee (left) with Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes
Taipei, July 11 (CNA) Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes arrived in Taiwan for a three-day state visit Tuesday during which he will attend events to celebrate the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister David Lee warmly greeted Cartes and his delegation upon their arrival at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
The ministry said that during his stay, Cartes will visit major economic facilities and have exchanges with major business leaders to upgrade bilateral trade and economic exchanges.
President Tsai Ing-wen will officially welcome Cartes on Wednesday with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, and host a national banquet in his honor.
The ministry is also arranging a series of activities in celebration of the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
It noted that this is Cartes' third visit to Taiwan since he assumed the presidency on Aug. 15, 2013 and is a reciprocal visit after Tsai visited the South American country in June last year.
The ministry said that Taiwan and Paraguay, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in South America, have had close cooperation and exchanges in trade, medicine, education and agriculture.
Based on the close and solid bilateral relations, the ministry said it will push for more mutually beneficial cooperation programs for the benefit of the people of both nations.
Cartes' visit comes after Panama switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China last month, leaving Taipei with only 20 diplomatic allies.
