Relationship with El Salvador is fine, MOFA officials say

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday that diplomatic ties with El Salvador are firm, in response to an Agence France Presse (AFP) report that said the country -- one of Taiwan's 26 diplomatic allies -- would study the possibility of establishing diplomatic and trade relations with China.

Salvadoran Foreign Minister Francisco Lainez told reporters Wednesday that it is important to analyze the possibility of building diplomatic and trade ties with China, as leading local entrepreneurs have expressed an interest in opening the Chinese market to Salvadoran goods, the AFP report said.

MOFA spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) said El Salvador's local Chamber of Commerce brought forth the proposal in order to facilitate coffee and pharmaceutical products exports to China.

"Lainez said his ministry would treat the proposal seriously and that it would analyze the possibility of building diplomatic and trade relations with China," Lu said.

The spokesman stressed that frequent mutual visits by senior Taiwanese and Salvadoran officials show that both sides' ties remain solid.

"Salvadoran President Antonio Saca led a delegation to attend the Democratic Pacific Assembly hosted by Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) in August," Lu said.

Salvadoran business leaders believe China's accession to the WTO has created an opportunity for unlimited exports to the country, a conclusion that makes the Chinese market increasingly attractive to them, the AFP report said.

"Lainez said the assessment of El Salvador's relations with China should be done `in a mature and serious way' and take into consideration the best interests of the country," the report said.

"Asked how formal ties with Beijing could affect relations with Taiwan, the minister said El Salvador respected Taipei's democratic gains, but added that Salvadoran relations with other countries should be `based on mutual respect,'" the report said.

Hou Ping-fu (侯平福), Taiwan's ambassador to El Salvador, told the Central News Agency yesterday that despite the business leaders' suggestions, the ally would not build diplomatic ties with China.

"I just met with Lainez this afternoon and had a happy conversation. The AFP report is misleading. The Chamber of Commerce even invited me to attend their trade seminar that will take place this weekend," Hou said.