Taipei: Paraguay’s Darío Filártiga Ruiz Díaz and Belize’s Katherine Meighan have officially presented their credentials as the new ambassadors to Taiwan, meeting with President Lai Ching-te at the Presidential Office on Friday.
According to Focus Taiwan, Filártiga reaffirmed Paraguay’s support for Taiwan’s involvement in international affairs and expressed a desire to enhance bilateral ties through increased Paraguayan exports to Taiwan and more Taiwanese investment in Paraguay. President Lai highlighted the economic, educational, and political ties between the two countries, noting the positive impact of the 2018 Economic Cooperation Agreement on trade, as well as collaborative efforts in technology, transport, and healthcare.
Filártiga, who previously advised former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes, has visited Taiwan on three occasions, equipping him with substantial regional expertise. This background positions him to effectively strengthen bilateral cooperation. Later on Friday, Meighan presented he
r credentials, expressing Belize’s eagerness to broaden cooperation in areas such as education, culture, technology, and climate initiatives.
Meighan also reiterated Belize’s commitment to deepening ties, thanked Taiwan for its regional support, and emphasized Belize’s backing for Taiwan’s international participation. In response, President Lai noted the 36th anniversary of Taiwan-Belize diplomatic relations in October, acknowledged trade growth since the 2022 Economic Cooperation Agreement, including the approval of Belizean frozen seafood by Taiwan in July, and expressed optimism for deepening economic and investment relations.
Lai remarked that Meighan’s presence signifies Belize’s dedication to the bilateral friendship and sets the stage for new milestones in their relationship. Meighan, described as “a longtime friend of Taiwan” and a National Chengchi University alumna, has made significant contributions in Belize’s business and civic sectors. She has fostered trade and investment ties, promoted women
‘s empowerment, and supported the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, laying a foundation for further collaboration in education, gender equality, and economic cooperation, Lai added.
