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Lu says US stopovers show relations growing stronger

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said yesterday that her stopovers in the US en route to Latin America on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will contain public activities.

Lu said this shows that US-Taiwan relations are not only solid, but achieving new developments.

"I will meet politicians and even give a public speech in three big US cities," Lu said yesterday before her departure.

"The usual limit on Taiwanese officials' activities when they visit the US will be broken, and this signifies a promotion of the relationship between Taiwan and the US," she said.

Lu also said she would have the chance to meet and exchange opinions with international leaders such as Cuban President Fidel Castro when she attends an inauguration ceremony for new Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte Frutos.

"I believe there will be a lot of interesting stories to tell, but I can only tell you about them after I return," Lu said.

Lu was appointed as Chen's special representative to participate in Frutos' inauguration.

She also plans to visit Panama.

Since China has been working hard on its relationship with Panama, there have been rumors about a change in ties between Taiwan and Panama in recent years.

Lu will visit Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, hoping to strengthen the relationship between the two countries through a strong personal relationship between the two female politicians.

Before Lu left the country yesterday, she went to the Taoyuan Dome to attend a Buddhist ceremony. She worshipped the Success Buddha (成功佛) and gave a speech to stress the importance of her visit to the US.

According to the Presidential Office, Lu will make stopovers in Honolulu and Los Angeles from yesterday to Monday and then fly to Panama on Monday for a three-day visit. Lu will arrive Paraguay on Wednesday and attend the president's inauguration next Friday.

The last leg of Lu's trip will take her to Seattle, where she hopes to visit the operations of Boeing and Microsoft.

Since the transfer of power in 2000, Lu has made five foreign visits. She has improved Taiwan's relationship with the countries with which it has diplomatic ties, and she has managed to break through China's suppression and become the first Taiwanese vice president to give a public speech at an international conference.

"Vice President Lu has been promoting the concept of `Taiwan Soft diplomacy,' hoping to fight for the chance for Taiwan to speak to the world based on the appeal of women, democracy and peace. She has also performed her diplomacy well," said Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office and a member of Lu's delegation.
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