Vice President Annette Lu (
Lu was met at the Honolulu International Airport by Chen Chien-jen (
Later at her hotel room, Lu personally received Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, who is the first woman to serve as the governor of Hawaii and the first Republican to lead the state since 1962.
The two exchanged opinions on various issues during their 30-minute meeting. They also agreed to strengthen bilateral exchanges between Taiwan and Hawaii.
Lu also told the governor that she has been promoting the establishment of the Democratic Pacific Union -- an organization that will serve as an international stronghold of democratization in the Pacific Rim.
Lu invited Lingle to take part in the first Democratic Pacific Assembly, scheduled to be held in Taipei next month, which she said is expected to usher in the arrival of the genuine "Era of the Pacific."
The governor has already accepted the invitation.
"Political, academic and business leaders from more than 20 Pacific Rim countries and areas are expected to attend this international assembly," Lu told reporters.
In addition, the vice president visited Hawaii's East West Center, one of the top research think tanks in the US. She was met by acting center director Nancy Davis Lewis.
Lu and her entourage are also scheduled to meet with Calvin Say, speaker of the Hawaiian State House of Representatives, and Congressman Daniel Akaka later today.
The delegation is scheduled to depart Hawaii for Los Angeles today for a two-day transit stay before heading to Panama. Lu's Panamanian counterpart Dominador Kaiser Bazan Jimenez will honor her by awarding her a medal.
Lu is leading the delegation to Asuncion, Paraguay, as President Chen Shui-bian's (
On her way back to Taiwan later next week, Lu will make a two-day transit stop in Seattle.
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