TAOYUAN (TVBS News) — Vice President Lai Ching-te concluded his 7-day trip abroad and returned to Taiwan on Friday morning (Aug. 18) after attending Paraguayan President Santiago Peña's inauguration.
Upon landing, Lai delivered a speech emphasizing the diplomatic significance of bilateral relations and collaboration between the two nations.
The Vice President expressed gratitude toward Paraguay's hospitality and stated that the friendship between Paraguay and the Republic of China (Taiwan) is rooted in shared values—the pursuit of democracy, freedom, and human rights.
Lai remarked that he looked forward to bolstering governmental and civilian collaborations in the years ahead.
Acknowledging President Peña's vision, Lai mentioned initiatives to combat poverty through education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
In education, Lai highlighted the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University (UPTP)--Taiwan's first transnational higher education initiative in Latin America. This initiative is a model for exporting Taiwan's technical and vocational education expertise to other nations.
Regarding healthcare, Lai noted that Taiwan has engaged with over 200 public medical institutions in Paraguay, facilitating the provision of cutting-edge healthcare information systems.
During the delegation's visit, Lai mentioned discussions surrounding collaboration in sectors such as electric vehicles, food processing, and textiles.
He added that Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua will also visit Paraguay shortly to delve further into the details of these cooperative ventures.
In closing, Lai attributed Taiwan's progress across various domains and the increased international support it receives to the efforts of both its citizens and overseas Taiwanese.