Taipei: The Guatemalan Embassy celebrated the Central American country's 205th independence day at a reception in Taipei on Thursday attended by Taiwanese officials and members of the diplomatic community. Guatemalan Ambassador to Taiwan Luis Raºl Est©vez L³pez highlighted that the nation's political, social, and cultural experiences since gaining independence from Spain on September 15, 1821, have significantly shaped its current democratic framework.
According to Focus Taiwan, Ambassador Est©vez emphasized the strengthening bilateral relations between Guatemala and Taiwan, noting that cooperation has expanded in diplomatic, commercial, defense, cultural, and technological domains. He referred to the increase in Guatemalan exports to Taiwan, additional scholarships for Guatemalan students, and initiatives launched following President Bernardo Ar©valo's visit in June 2025, aimed at integrating Guatemala into the semiconductor supply chain.
Furthermore, Est©vez reaffirmed Guatemala's unwavering support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations. He mentioned that the two nations will celebrate 92 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations in December.
Representing Taiwan's government, Vice Foreign Minister Ger Baushuan extended congratulations to Guatemala and lauded the bilateral cooperation in areas such as public health, infrastructure, personnel training, and trade. He highlighted joint projects like Guatemala's first public specialized cancer hospital, the modernization of La Aurora International Airport, and the establishment of a cloud backup data center to bolster governmental cybersecurity.
Ger also pointed out that "two-way trade and investment remain a cornerstone of our bilateral relations," with Guatemala's annual exports to Taiwan reaching US$130 million over the past two years. Taiwan aims to encourage more companies to establish operations in Guatemala, using the country as a strategic hub for expansion into the Americas, thus contributing to industrial development and job creation.