Taipei () — Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei reaffirmed Guatemala’s “unconditional” support for Taiwan on Tuesday morning as Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen greeted him during a welcoming ceremony for his four-day state visit to Taiwan. the island.
In his subsequent address to Taiwanese lawmakers in the island’s legislature, Giammattei called on the international community to respect Taiwan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We have to be united in our support for this country that has long been under threat from across the strait,” Giammattei said.
He also told Taiwanese lawmakers that “Guatemala and Taiwan will be long-term cooperative partners. My presence here today is proof of that.”
Giammattei is on a state visit to Taiwan from Monday to Thursday. He is the first head of state to address Taiwan’s legislature in 13 years.
Guatemala is one of the 13 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.