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Guatemala, El Salvador
Taiwan President Starts Visit To Belize,
Guatemala, El Salvador
Taipei - Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou left
Tuesday on a visit to Belize, Guatemala and
El Salvador as he sought to shore up ties
with three of the 23 countries that
diplomatically recognize Taiwan.
The main purpose of his trip is to attend
the June 1 inauguration of El Salvador
president-elect Mauricio Funes, but he is to
also visit Belize and Guatemala to
strengthen relations.
Before his departure, Ma thanked Taipei's
diplomatic allies for their support for
Taiwan's return to the United Nations and
its various organizations.
He assured them that Taiwan's improving ties
with China would not affect Taiwan's
friendship with - and aid to - Taipei's
diplomatic allies.
"The purpose of our improving ties with
China is to reduce tension, create peace and
normalize economic ties," Ma said while
receiving a group of Latin American military
officers a few hours before his departure.
"This effort will not affect our
long-standing friendship with our diplomatic
allies."
"Our cooperation projects with diplomatic
allies will not decrease," he said. "If,
after evaluation, we find it necessary to
extend or expand the cooperation projects,
we are happy to do so."
Ma and his delegation left Tuesday afternoon
in a chartered plane, which carried a load
of medical supplies to be donated to the
three allies.
The Taiwan government did not announce the
amount and content of the medical supplies,
but it is believed they would help fight the
new strain of the H1N1 flu virus, more
commonly known as swine flu.
According to the World Health Organization,
the H1N1 outbreak has caused 12,954 human
infections and 93 deaths as of Tuesday.
Ma's delegation members include government
officials, reporters, first lady Chow Mei-ching,
five college students who major in Spanish
and a band that is to perform in Belize,
Guatemala and El Salvador.
In El Salvador, Ma is to hold talks with
leaders of Taiwan's allies and meet with
leaders from countries that do not have
diplomatic ties with Taiwan who are also to
attend Funes' inauguration. |
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