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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Diplomacy
Foreign presidents to visit
The presidents of the Dominican Republic and Guatemala will visit in April and August respectively, the government said. The Dominican Republic's Vice Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Trullols, who is in Taiwan to attend the Taiwan-Central American foreign ministers meeting, informed President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) that President Leonel Fernandez would lead a delegation to Taiwan in April, the presidential office said in a statement. "President Chen said he looks forward to meeting President Fernandez again in Taipei. He hopes President Fernandez' visit can attract more Taiwanese businessmen to invest in the Dominican Republic," the statement said. Meanwhile, Guatemalan President Oscar Berger is scheduled to visit in August. Taiwan and Guatemala completed their first round of free trade talks on Friday, and expect to finish negotiations before August.

■ Culture
Youths get democracy lesson
A two-day training camp to foster a democratic spirit among young people and train them to advocate democracy in modern society, the first of its kind in Taiwan, opened in Kaohsiung yesterday. Around 60 young people attended the event, organized by the National Youth Commission. Commission Chairwoman Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) and acting Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) delivered opening speeches. The training camp can serve as a continuation of last year's National Youth Conference, Cheng said, adding that disagreements are normal in a democracy, while respecting individual differences is one of the true principles of democracy.

■ Architecture
UK team to attend seminar
A six-member team from Foster & Partners, a prominent British firm of architects, will arrive in Taipei next Sunday to attend an international seminar on urban renewal and cultural renaissance, according to the Council for Cultural Affairs. The team will be headed by Andrew Miller, a senior partner of Foster & Partners, council Chairman Chen Chi-nan (陳其南) said. Chen met Sir Norman Foster, the 1999 laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, who heads Foster & Partners, during a visit to the UK last fall. Chen invited the company's architects and urban development planners to visit Taiwan this year to exchange views on how to inject new life into several of Taipei's historic relics and old buildings. In addition to attending the two-day seminar starting on March 14, Chen said, the six visitors will tour several cultural facilities and old buildings, including the Huashan Art Center, the National Palace Museum and the old Taipei Railway Ministry building.

■ Politics
Soong underestimated: Lu
Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday expressed regret that the meeting between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) late last month had turned from "what was supposed to be a good thing" to "a storm in a tea-cup." Lu made the remark in reference to the uproar among pan-green supporters in the wake the meeting, who were irked by the 10-point consensus reached between Chen and Soong, in which Chen reiterated that he would not promote Taiwanese independence or change the country's official name during his term in office. Lu attributed the reason to Chen's personal aids, who are generally young, to have underestimated Soong's ability at political scheming.

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