Photo courtesy of CNA;President Tsai Ing-wen (right)
Taipei, July 12 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen announced Wednesday while meeting with Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes that Taiwan will grant visa-free treatment to Paraguayan visitors to Taiwan, based on the principle of reciprocity after the South American country recently adopted the same measure for visitors from Taiwan.
Cartes and a delegation of officials arrived in Taiwan a day earlier on a three-day state visit, during which he is scheduled to attend various events to celebrate the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
During a meeting at the Presidential Office, Tsai thanked Cartes for signing an administrative order to include Taiwan in its visa waiver program just before he visited.
Tsai then announced that Taiwan will implement the same visa-waiver measure for Paraguayan visitors with immediate effect, saying that the measure is an important step forward toward boosting economic, trade and investment ties and exchanges between the two countries.
She also expressed gratitude to Cartes for his warm hospitality when she visited Paraguay last year, and for his country's support in the international arena.
Tsai said Paraguay is one of Taiwan's good friends and that when Taiwan is subject to unfair treatment in the international community, the country usually speaks out for Taiwan by issuing official statements or delivering speeches.
Tsai and Cartes also witnessed the signing of an economic cooperation agreement and an agreement to streamline the process of authentication and legalization of official documents in the two countries.
Paraguay is Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in South America.
Cartes' visit comes after Panama cut formal ties with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with China on June 13, leaving Taipei with only 20 diplomatic allies.
