Guatemala City, Guatemala, April 1 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen said Saturday that she wished the diplomatic ties between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Guatemala could last as long as the 3,000-year-old Mayan culture in the Central American country.
As part of her state visit to Guatemala, Tsai was on a tour of Tikal National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 because of its outstanding Mesoamerican ruins and the unique ecology of the surrounding jungle.
Accompanied by Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei and Foreign Minister Mario Búcaro, Tsai watched a Mayan ball game and an invocation ceremony, and the two presidents exchanged gifts, in front of the Temple of Ah Cacao (Great Jaguar), a limestone pyramid structure that dates back to around 732 AD and is the tomb of a ruler during that era.
Tasi and Búcaro also climbed 38 meters to the top of another Mayan pyramid called the Temple of the Masks, on which they stood waving to reporters and Giammattei, who did not make the climb because of his multiple sclerosis health condition.
When Tsai returned to the ground, she told reporters that the climb had left her somewhat breathless, but it was a “vast and magnificent” view from the top of the pyramid.
She also said she wished that the diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Guatemala could last 3,000 years, like the Mayan culture in the Central American country.
In a Facebook post after the tour, Tsai encouraged people in Taiwan to visit the Mayan archaeological site in Guatemala.
“Tikal National Park, a World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO, was used as a filming location for ‘Star Wars’ and is the most famous cultural tourism location in Guatemala,” she wrote.
She thanked President Giammattei for arranging the trip and for accompanying her on the tour, which she said was an indication of his friendship with Taiwan.
Giammattei, meanwhile, tweeted that the tour was meant to share with President Tsai “one of the greatest treasures of our nation, the Tikal National Park.”
“This visit, during which we strengthened our bonds of friendship, will be kept in our hearts,” he said.
Later in the day, at a banquet hosted by President Tsai at her hotel in the Guatemalan capital, Giammattei emphasized his country’s commitment to its friendship with Taiwan, saying that if the latter was left with only one diplomatic ally in Latin America, it would be Guatemala.
He also said the two countries should strengthen their links, and that he was looking forward to the launch of direct flights between Taipei and Guatemala City via Los Angeles.
This will help to bring Latin America closer to Taiwan, so that the people of both sides can get to know each other better, through Guatemala, Giammattei said.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tsai was scheduled to depart Guatemala on Sunday for Belize, where she will stay until April 4, then fly to Los Angeles en route to Taiwan.
Guatemala and Belize are now Taiwan’s only two remaining diplomatic allies in Central America, after Honduras switched allegiance to China late last month.
Source: Focus Taiwan