Yu hopes to see trade deal signed within six months

"We'll continue our support for your bids to join the WHO and the UN if Taiwanese people and the Taiwan government first reach an internal consensus."

Jose Miguel Aleman, Panamanian foreign minister

Taiwan and Panama may sign a free-trade agreement (FTA) within six months, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday.

"I hope to see all the negotiations, which will be held on a monthly basis, completed within six months before both sides finally sign the accord," Yu said.

The signing of the accord, Yu added, would make it easier for Taiwan to enter the American market and for Panama to enter the Asian market.

Yu made the remark on Friday afternoon when he and Panamanian Second Vice President Dominador Kaiser Bazan signed a joint statement regarding the FTA.

The statement says that both Taiwan and Panama agree to hold monthly meetings to discuss details such as what items will be included in the pact.

Bazan said the signing of the accord means a lot for the Pan-amanian government because the agreement makes Panama the first among Taiwan's Central and South American allies to sign such a pact.

"We [would be] proud to be the first country to sign an FTA with Taiwan. It would benefit not only Panama but also Taiwan," Bazan said. "We expect a pact would strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries."

In the morning, Yu attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Jose Domingo de Obaldia Mother and Infant Hospital in David, Chiriqui Province, a one-hour flight from the capital.

The NT$35 million project, which is funded by the Taiwanese government, is scheduled to be completed by April 2004.

It is expected to ease the burden of the city's other hospital, which is simply too old and too small to take care of the city's growing population.

Despite the humidity and rain, about a thousand local residents and government officials attended the event.

Yu jokingly said that he must have brought the rain from his hometown, Ilan, where showers are common.

"Chinese hold that it'll bring good luck if it rains during an event like this," Yu said. "I believe the project will go as smoothly as can be."

Panamanian President Mireya Elisa Moscoso said that she is pleased residents' dreams of having a modern medical facility will soon become reality.

The hospital, which covers 6 hectares and will have 430 beds, will provide medical services to Panamanian women and children, as well as people from outside the country.

Moscoso also took the opportunity to berate the Panamanian opposition parties which had harshly criticized her.

"I'd like to say to those who have criticized me for doing nothing that I am doing something and I'm doing it well. This project is a perfect example," she said.

Her remark drew cheers from the audience.

Moscoso's coalition government has been experiencing tough times since the coalition lost its majority in the Legislative Assembly in September 2000.

The Panamanian government also reiterated its support for Taiwan's ongoing efforts to participate in international organizations.

"We'll continue our support for your bids to join the WHO and the UN if Taiwanese people and the Taiwan government first reach an internal consensus," Panamanian Foreign Minister Jose Miguel Aleman said.

Aleman made the remark during a dinner banquet hosted by Yu on Friday night to celebrate the launch of the Panamanian chapter of the Alliance for Democracy and Peace.

Yu also called on overseas Chinese to help the government resolve cross-strait differences.

"Negotiation, rather than confrontation, is the best way to tackle cross-strait issues," Yu said. "We hope overseas Chinese will help the government to secure positive responses from China. We've expressed a tremendous amount of sincerity and goodwill and we'll continue to do so."