Guatemala, Belize and Taiwan launch joint cooperation projects

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belize.

Guatemala, Belize and Taiwan have relaunched a series of cooperation projects due to be carried out over a 24-month period with the aim of promoting regional development and strengthening ties between these countries. 

The projects will cover a wide range of strategic areas, including public health, climate change, marine environmental protection, micro, small and medium enterprise development, sustainable tourism, digital transformation, energy transition and electric mobility, as well as institutional strengthening in key aspects of public administration.

The event, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, was attended by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Belize, Amalia Mai, who highlighted the importance of this trilateral collaboration to address common challenges and improve the quality of life of the region’s citizens.

Although most countries in the world do not recognize Taiwan as an independent nation and instead abide by the People’s Republic of China’s “one China” policy, Belize and Guatemala, by committing to these projects, strengthen their diplomatic relations with Taiwan. 

However, across Latin America, fewer and fewer allies remain for Taiwan, as many countries have opted to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China instead of Taiwan. This shift reflects China’s growing economic and diplomatic influence in the region.

Since 1992, Taiwan has been a strategic ally for the Central American region, with the establishment of the First Joint Commission, which was created to foster bilateral relations between Guatemala and Taiwan, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the two countries. In addition, as an observer country of the Central American Integration System (Sica) –a regional body created to promote integration among the countries of the region since 2000 – Taiwan has played an active role in promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development in priority areas for the region.

Upon committing to the renewal of these projects, Taiwanese Ambassador Miguel Li-jey Tsao gave a detailed presentation on the Taiwan Development Model and its relevance in global dynamics. He highlighted Taiwan’s economic, political, social and environmental evolution, as well as its commitment as a strategic partner of the Sica region in the search for innovative and effective solutions to regional challenges.

This relaunch of cooperation projects reflects the joint commitment of Guatemala, Belize and Taiwan to sustainable development and the strengthening of regional integration in Central America, demonstrating once again the importance of international collaboration to effectively address global challenges.

Main source:

Guatemala, Belice y Taiwán lanzan proyectos conjuntos de cooperación por 24 meses (2024, 4 de abril).
https://agn.gt/guatemala-belice-y-republica-de-china-taiwan-lanzan-proyectos-de-cooperacion-conjunta/

Other related sources:

Centra News (3 de abril, 2024)
https://centranews.com.gt/economia/guatemala-belice-y-taiwan-lanzan-proyectos-conjuntos-de-cooperacion-por-24-meses/