[1/2] President-Elect Santiago Pena, a 44-year-old economist who won 43% of the vote on Sunday in the Presidential election, speaks during a news conference in Asuncion, Paraguay May 2, 2023.
REUTERS/Cesar Olmedo/File PhotoTAIPEI, July 9 (Reuters) - Paraguay's president-elect, Santiago Pena, will visit Taiwan this week and meet "great friend" President Tsai Ing-wen, he said on Sunday, shoring up a relationship at a time China is working to entice the island's dwindling allies.
Pena said on his Twitter account he would visit Abu Dhabi, then go to Taiwan to meet Tsai, who he described as a "great friend".
He will be in Taiwan for the 66th anniversary of diplomatic ties on Wednesday, the ministry said.
Diplomatic sources have told Reuters that Lai might attend as Taiwan's representative, likely transiting the United States to meet U.S. officials.
Persons:
Santiago Pena, Cesar Olmedo, Tsai Ing, shoring, Pena, Tsai, William Lai, Wang Mei, Lai, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard
Organizations:
REUTERS, Democratic Progressive, Reuters, Thomson
Locations:
Asuncion , Paraguay, TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Paraguay, American, Honduras, Beijing, Central America, Caribbean, U.S, America, Washington, Abu Dhabi, United States