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Chen's journey to Americas to remain`secure and simple'

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will embark on an eight-day diplomatic trip to Panama and Belize at the end of this month, with stopovers in Hawaii and Seattle, the Presidential Office said yesterday.

"The main purpose of the trip is to attend the inauguration of Panamanian President-elect Martin Torrijos on Sept. 1," Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General James Huang (黃志芳) said during a press conference.

It will be Chen's first official trip abroad since his re-election in March.

"Because the president is busy dealing with national affairs, the trip has been arranged with security, convenience and simplicity firmly in mind," Huang said.

Chen will leave on Aug. 29 with a one-night stopover in Hawaii before arriving in Panama on Aug. 31 for a two-day visit.

Apart from attending the inauguration of president-elect Martin Torrijos, Chen will also attend a banquet hosted by outgoing President Mireya Elisa Moscoso and hold interviews with the international press.

Chen will then travel to Belize, a Central American ally which Chen has not had a chance to visit until now.

Chen will sign a joint communique with Belizean Prime Minister Said Musa during his one-day visit as well as receiving the keys to Belize City.

Chen and Musa will also decorate each other, Huang said.

Chen will also take basketballs and soccer balls as a gift to Belize, Huang added.

Chen is scheduled to return on Sept. 5.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) told reporters that Chen Shui-bian would rub shoulders with other foreign dignitaries while attending the inauguration in Panama.

"Whoever [the US representatives may be,] the ministry will try to arrange for Chen to have an opportunity to chat with them," Mark Chen said.

Huang said that Chen Shui-bian would not be able to meet with Hawaiian Governor Linda Lingle during his brief stopover in Hawaii, as Lingle would be away in New York attending the Republican Party's national convention.

It was also unlikely that Chen Shui-bian would meet with Washington Governor Gary Locke in Seattle since Locke would be attending his daughter's wedding, Huang said.

Despite this, Mark Chen said the ministry will arrange for Chen to meet with other US political figures as well as overseas Taiwanese groups.

When asked whether the president would take the opportunity to visit his son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), who is currently studying at the University of California, Berkeley, Huang said the Presidential Office had not made any such arrangement.

"The trip is of a working nature," Huang said.

"The president does not arrange travel itineraries based on personal matters," he said.
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