Vice President to remain in Paraguay for three days

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) was scheduled to arrive in the Republic of Paraguay yesterday from Nicaragua for a three-day official visit aimed at solidifying bilateral relations.

On Friday morning, Lu visited new Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos Geyer and congratulated him on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

The Nicaraguan president said Taiwan's assistance to his country is greatly appreciated. He also expressed his willingness to visit Taiwan later this year.

According to officials, Ambassador Bing Yen (顏秉璠) is scheduled to brief Lu today on the current situation in Paraguay and on bilateral relations, after which Lu and her delegation will visit a horticultural center set up by a Taiwanese technical mission stationed in Paraguay.

Lu is also scheduled to meet with representatives from the Chinese community and the Paraguayan media. In the evening, Paraguayan Vice President Julio Cesar Franco will host a dinner party in honor of Lu and her entourage.

Lu is scheduled to call on Paraguayan President Luis Angel Gonzalez Macchi tomorrow to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

Both parties will then jointly preside over a ceremony to mark Taiwan's donation of two UH-1H military helicopters to the country. After that, Gonzalez will host a luncheon in Lu's honor.

Taiwan is also offering maintenance and spare parts for the two helicopters.

A 13-member army mission arrived in Asuncion on Jan. 2 to assemble the helicopters, the third and fourth of six craft that Taiwan has promised to donate to the Paraguayan government.

The first two were delivered in March.

The Paraguayan government will decorate Lu with a national order at the Ministry of Foreign Relations in recognition of her efforts to step up Taipei-Asuncion relations.

Lu plans to leave Asuncion on Jan. 15, after concluding her official visit to Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in South America.

She will stay in Los Angeles for three days before returning to Taipei on Saturday.