Taiwan, Guatemala sign deals on chip cooperation, political consultations

Taipei, June 5 (CNA) Taiwan and Guatemala signed two agreements on Thursday to boost cooperation on semiconductors and establish a new mechanism for political consultations, highlighting the deep ties between the two countries.

In the presence of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and his visiting Guatemalan counterpart Bernardo Arévalo, the two governments signed a letter of intent under which Taiwan will support Guatemala's efforts to develop its semiconductor industry.

Under the other agreement signed by the two sides, a mechanism for holding regular consultations on bilateral ties and global issues of mutual interest will be established.

The signing ceremony at the Presidential Office followed a bilateral meeting between Lai and Arévalo, who arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday for a five-day visit, his first trip to the country since taking office in January 2024.

Speaking ahead of the closed-door meeting, Lai said cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala has continued to deepen in recent years, yielding tangible results in fields such as public health, agriculture and women's empowerment.

At the same time, Lai said, the government reiterates its call for Taiwanese businesses to invest in Guatemala, citing the Central American ally's strategic location, abundant natural resources and skilled workforce as key advantages.

Lai said he looked forward to seeing Taiwanese and Guatemalan companies develop mutually beneficial partnerships that strengthen supply chain resilience and create long-term strategic value.

In his remarks, Arévalo said Thursday's talks demonstrated the commitment of both governments to advancing the bilateral relationship to a new phase.

Guatemala is one of 12 states in the world that maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China. The two countries established relations in 1934.

Speaking of the agreement on political consultations, Arévalo said it would strengthen coordination between Taiwan and Guatemala and enable the two countries to regularly and strategically track priority issues in their joint collaboration projects.

Earlier the same day, Lai also hosted a welcome ceremony for Arévalo and his delegation, which included First Lady Lucrecia Peinado, Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martínez, and Economy Minister Gabriela García-Quinn, at the Presidential Office in Taipei.