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Lu departs on visit to Americas

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) will embark today on a two-week trip during which she will visit three allies in Central America and make stops in two US cities.

"China always makes an all-out effort to stop me from making foreign trips, and attacks me in every way possible," Lu said yesterday during a news conference at which her schedule for the trip was announced.

"But all of China's efforts only help to put me in the international spotlight," Lu said.

During her "technology and humanity" trip, Lu will attend the inauguration ceremony of El Salvadoran president-elect Elias Antonio Saca on Tuesday and then visit Costa Rica and Guatemala in a bid to strengthen friendships with those countries.

Recognition

"In recognition of the sincerity shown by the 15 heads of state who attended the inauguration of President Chen [Shui-bian] (陳水扁) and Vice President Lu, the vice president is going to represent President Chen at our ally's joyous occasion," said James Huang (黃志芳), the newly-appointed deputy secretary-general to the president.

During the news conference, the Presidential Office noted that the trip will be Lu's first since Chen and Lu won re-election, and that it will be Lu's seventh foreign trip since she became vice president.

Preview

In previewing the trip, Lu returned to one of her favorite themes -- Switzerland.

"Costa Rica has been described as the Central American Switzerland, and I have vowed to turn Taiwan into Asia's Switzerland. Therefore, I have wanted to visit Costa Rica for a long time," Lu said.

Lu also said that she would like to invite leaders of Central American countries to attend the second Democratic Pacific Assembly -- organized by Lu -- which is to be held in Taipei in August.

Lu is scheduled to make speeches at Universidad Politecnica de El Salvador, the University of Costa Rica and San Carlos University in Honduras, where she will receive an honorary doctorate.

The US government has announced that Lu is welcome to make a stop in Las Vegas on her way to El Salvador and to stay three nights in San Francisco on her way home.

"I will not go gambling," Lu joked about her scheduled stop in Las Vegas.

Purpose

Lu said that her purpose in visiting Las Vegas is to learn from the city's experience in serving as an international conference center.

"I have advocated developing Taiwan as a center for international non-governmental agencies (NGOs). Also, having been invited by a US congressman from Nevada, we would like to interview city leaders," Lu said.

Lu expressed appreciation toward the US government for the arrangements it has made for her travel there, and for operating under the principles of "dignity, safety, convenience and comfort."

Lu said that William Brown, the acting chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, will welcome Lu and her delegation during the stopovers.

In San Francisco, the last stop on her trip, Lu will receive a Human Rights Award from the US Congress Human Rights Caucus.

The vice president will return to Taiwan on the morning of June 10.
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