San Franscisco stopover a test of US ties, Lu says

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) said Saturday in Guatemala that her transit stop in San Francisco on her way home to Taipei will serve as a test of Taiwan's relations with the US.

Lu made the remarks in Guatemala City at the end of a three-nation Central American tour that included El Salvador and Costa Rica.

While in San Francisco, she will receive a human rights award from Representative Tom Lantos at a gathering with overseas Taiwanese in recognition of Taiwan's outstanding achievements in this field and will participate in a party hosted in Napa Valley by California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante in her honor.

In addition, she will also meet well-known academics from the Bay Area and take part in a seminar to recruit high-tech talent based in the US.

By that time, the public will be able to gauge Taiwan-US relations through her activities in San Francisco, she added.

Taiwan-US ties suffered prior to the March 20 presidential election amid US fears over Taiwan's first nationwide referendum and plans for a new constitution.

Lu also revealed her plans to forge fresh joint ventures with the three Central American countries after returning home.

Apart from inviting more artistic groups from the region to visit Taiwan to allow Taiwanese to gain a better understanding of Latin American culture, Lu said she will push for closer cooperation in human rights, peace and women's affairs with Costa Rica.

In cooperation with El Salvador, Lu said that efforts will focus on agriculture by helping that country set up special fruit and flower production facilities through technology transfers.