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Hsieh planning US trip

Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh juggles water bottles during a visit to the Paperwindmill Theater in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

Former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential hopeful, is scheduled to visit the US late next month, diplomatic sources in Washington said yesterday.

Hsieh will arrive in Los Angeles on June 25 for a one-day visit before heading to Washington for a four-day visit, the sources said, adding that the trip was arranged by the Washington-based Formosan Association for Public Affairs.

US meetings

While in Washington, Hsieh is expected to meet US officials and Congressional representatives, as well as several think tanks, to give them an understanding of his stances on major issues, particularly cross-strait relations, as well as his ideals regarding running the country, the sources said.

The US Congress will host a welcome party in honor of Hsieh during his visit.

Hsieh is expected to deliver a speech at a think tank, although the details of his itinerary in Washington have yet to be finalized, the sources said.

In an interview with the Central News Agency on Wednesday, Taiwan's representative to the US Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said his office would extend every possible assistance to Hsieh during his trip to Washington -- if Hsieh asks for help and if the representative office receives instructions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard.

Wu denied a media report that said members of the administration of US President George W. Bush had asked his office to provide detailed personal information about Hsieh.

Ma visiting?

Wu also said he had no idea whether Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) would visit the US in the near future, but that his office would lend a helping hand to Ma if the former mayor should request it.

Hsieh attended a public affairs study program at Harvard University last year after leaving the premier's office. He also visited Washington in late January to attend the annual US National Prayer Breakfast as the envoy of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
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