President Tsai returns from Central America, touts steadfast diplomacy
2017/01/17
President Tsai Ing-wen returned Jan. 15 to Taiwan from an official visit to Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador in that order, describing the nine-day trip as instrumental in cementing bilateral ties with the Central American nations while demonstrating the effectiveness of the government’s steadfast diplomacy approach.
The visit provided the opportunity to experience firsthand conditions in these diplomatic allies and learn of their expectations and needs in terms of economic development, Tsai said. In keeping with the principles of steadfast diplomacy, the government will continue promoting bilateral talks instead of providing one-way aid, as well as implementing more efficient joint cooperation projects and creating additional opportunities for win-win results, she added.
According to the president, the approach takes into account industry and related developments within the framework of changing global conditions. Given the enormous potential of Central America, the region is certain to feature prominently in the business strategies of Taiwan firms, she said, adding that the government will help open the market by building on its free trade agreements with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as organizing more fact-finding trips involving the public and private sectors.
Prior to returning to Taiwan, Tsai stopped over Jan. 13 for one night in San Francisco. She attended a luncheon with Taiwan expatriates the following day, with invited guests including American Institute in Taiwan Chairman James F. Moriarty, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce’s wife Marie and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. She also toured the headquarters of social network service Twitter Inc., and tweeted in English about the visit on her official account.
During the final leg of the president’s trip to El Salvador, she met with President Salvador Sanchez Ceren Jan. 13 at Presidential House and was awarded the Order of Jose Matias Delgado in the grade of Grand Cross with Gold Star. Following the presentation ceremony, the two leaders pledged to further deepen bilateral ties dating back 83 years, with Tsai inviting Ceren and first lady Rosa Margarita Villalta de Sanchez to visit Taiwan.
Other activities on the president’s itinerary for that day include touring a coffee plantation; calling on the General Secretariat of San Salvador-headquartered Central American Integration System; and attending a special exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of bilateral cooperation projects jointly implemented by Taiwan and the system since its establishment in 1991.
Taiwan is working closely with the system in such areas as crisis and climate change management, democracy and security, economic integration, social integration and institutional strengthening, and has helped implement more than 100 regional collaboration projects to date. These undertakings have benefited people throughout the region and improved their well-being.
On the previous day, Tsai met with former Taiwan Scholarship Program recipients and took part in the donation ceremony of Acer CloudProfessor development kits to the El Salvadoran Ministry of Education. Comprising hardware and software designed for school children, the plug-and-play Internet-of-Things module provides simplified programming access and helps bridge the digital divide in the ROC diplomatic ally.
This is the president’s second overseas trip since taking office May 20, 2016. In June, she attended the inauguration ceremony of the Panama Canal expansion project before traveling to ROC South American diplomatic ally Paraguay.
Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=110387)
