Arriving in El Salvador on Wednesday President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) gave himself a large pat on the back, expressing his satisfaction with what had been accomplished during his stopover in New York.
"I am a man who is always making history. I was the first to win the Taipei City mayorship. The first opposition party leader to be elected as president and the first president of Taiwan to stop over in New York," Eugene Chien (
Chien was speaking at a press conference after Chen's arrival.
Speaking of his stopover in New York, Chien quoted Chen as saying that aside from being able to meet with US congressmen, traveling freely and being treated like an important head of state, "the biggest breakthrough in his trip for Taiwan was dignity."
Chien said that Chen was confident such progress will continue.
"Men who make history will always face criticism. The process is difficult but he has done it and he is confident that he will continue to gain more support," Chien quoted Chen as saying.
Chen also said that he hoped the stopover would become a model for trips by future leaders of Taiwan.
President Francisco Flores welcomed Chen at the airport and praised him for his historic visit to the US, which angered China. Flores and Chen later met behind closed doors.
"You are the one who is bringing to fruition this profound desire for your nation to have its own voice in the international community," Flores told Chen.
Taiwan's ambassador in El Salvador said the president rarely personally welcomes guests at the airport. During the past decade, President Flores has greeted only the pope, then-US president Bill Clinton and now Chen, the ambassador said.
Arriving at the Radisson Hotel where he is staying, nearly 600 overseas Taiwanese who live in El Salvador and some who had traveled from New York greeted Chen, waving flags and shouting: "Go Taiwan, go President Chen!"
Chen shook hands with almost every one of the individuals who traveled to El Salvador in order to greet him.
Chen said he chose El Salvador as his first stop in Latin America since Flores has been a strong ally, visiting Taiwan three times during his term. On Thursday, Chen is scheduled to visit El Salvador's Congress and check on the post quake reconstruction work that Taiwan's Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-chi Foundation (慈濟功德會) has been supporting.
Chen will also attend a summit with his Latin American allies to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties in the region.
The summit, which will be held on Friday, will include the presidents of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. The vice president of Panama will also attend.
The group is expected to sign a declaration recognizing Taiwan -- a move Chen hopes will give Taiwan access to international forums, which China opposes.
Chen will also visit Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay and Honduras on his trip. On his return, he will stop in Houston, Texas, from June 2 to June 3.
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