By: Omar Silva, NP Staff Writer

Belize City, Monday 3rd April 2023

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen recently visited Belize and Guatemala, the last two Central and Latin American countries still holding allegiances with Taiwan. During her visit to Belize, President Tsai was received with a joint special sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The President of the Senate, Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, and the Speaker of the House, Valerie Woods, highlighted the bond of friendship and partnership between Belize and Taiwan, based on their shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and peace.

Prime Minister John Briceño referred to the recently approved decision to support democratic Taiwan, which called for a commitment to a strong and healthy diplomatic bond between Belize and Taiwan, and bilateral cooperation in multiple areas such as agriculture, forestry, technology, education, climate change, youths and women, health, and tourism.

The visit also included the signing of a Technical Cooperation Framework Agreement between Belize and Taiwan, witnessed by both heads of government, which will streamline and strengthen bilateral technical cooperation. President Tsai presented Prime Minister Briceño with a generous donation of 5,000 digital devices to assist with initiatives aimed at improving learning resources for vulnerable groups such as children and women in rural areas.

President Tsai recalled her fond memories of Belize during her first visit a few years ago, where she visited Taiwan Street and met aspiring young Belizeans, offering them scholarships to study in Taiwan. She also visited the Museum of Belize, where she learned about the slave trade and highlighted the resilience of Taiwanese and Belizean people in the face of their challenging pasts.

The official visit comes at a time when Taiwan needs to shore up bilateral relations with its allies. In Central America, Belize and Guatemala are the only remaining countries with allegiances to the island nation of Taiwan. President Tsai expressed her gratitude to Belize for its strong support for Taiwan’s democracy and international participation and highlighted the ongoing projects and future commitments as signs of bright futures for bilateral ties.

Overall, the visit of President Tsai to Belize and Guatemala highlights the strong bond of friendship and partnership between the countries, based on shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and peace, and their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in multiple areas.