President Tsai set for visit to Panama, Paraguay

2016/06/15

President Tsai Ing-wen is departing June 24 for a nine-day trip to Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies Panama and Paraguay at the invitation of the presidents of the respective Latin American countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

MOFA Deputy Minister Javier Ching-shan Hou said June 14 that the visit is Tsai’s first overseas trip since taking office in May, and underscores the government’s commitment to deepening relations with ROC diplomatic allies. “It also promotes Taiwan investment in the two Latin American nations and strengthens win-win outcomes for all sides.”

First stop for Tsai is Panama where she will take part in the June 26 inauguration ceremony of the Panama Canal expansion project. The event is to be attended by heads of state and dignitaries from more than 70 countries and territories.

During Tsai’s stay, she will meet with Panama President Juan Carlos Varela to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral relations. These discussions are expected to include proposals for sending Taiwan technical staff to assist the Central American country in such areas as agriculture, education and technology. She is also expected to tour the Colon Container Terminal of Taipei City-headquartered Evergreen Marine Corp.

Next stop for Tsai is June 27 in Paraguay, where she will hold in-depth discussions with President Horacio Cartes in the capital Asuncion and deliver a speech in the Paraguayan congress. She is also scheduled to review progress of joint cooperation projects and attend a dinner banquet with ROC expatriates in the South American country.

The president, who will stopover in Miami and Los Angeles on the outbound and inbound legs of her trip, respectively, will return July 2 to Taiwan.

According to the MOFA, Tsai’s delegation comprises government officials and business representatives. Key members include MOFA Minister David Tawei Lee, National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu, deputy ministers of economic affairs, foreign affairs, and transportation and communications, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the President, as well as several legislators from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and opposition parties. The businesspeople are drawn predominantly from the food manufacturing, high-tech textile and solar energy sectors.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=245529&ctNode=2194&mp=9)