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Lu to visit Caribbean, Central America next week

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) will embark on a 13-day visit to three of the nation's allies in Central America and the Caribbean on Monday, the Presidential Office said yesterday.

Lu will make an overnight stop in San Francisco en route to the Dominican Republic and a four-hour stopover in Los Angeles on her return.

Office Deputy Secretary-General Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said Lu's trip was aimed at strengthening ties and exchanges with diplomatic allies and improving the international community's understanding of Taiwan. He said he would also like to see the visits highlight the nation's international image in terms of democracy, peace and human rights.

The main purpose of Lu's trip will be to attend celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Paraguay. Lu will also visit Guatemala and Dominican Republic.

Taiwan and Paraguay set up diplomatic relations on July 8, 1957. President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) led a delegation to the South American country in May 2001. Lu first visited Paraguay in January 2000 and attended the inauguration of Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte Frutos in August 2003.

Durarte Frutos came to Taiwan in May 2004 to attend the inauguration of Chen and Lu after they won re-election.

Chen Chi-mai said Lu's visits to the Dominican Republic and Guatemala are to personally thank the leaders of the two countries for their staunch support for Taiwan's bids to join the WHO and the UN.

Lu, who will arrive in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, plans to stay in the Caribbean country for three nights before heading to Paraguay, where she will also stay three nights. Lu will arrive in Guatemala on July 9 and stay there for three nights before leaving for Taipei on July 11.

Vice Foreign Minister Hou Ching-shan (侯清山) said the trip to Guatemala had been added to the itinerary about a week ago when Guatemalan President Oscar Berger Perdomo suggested a visit.

Hou said Lu's stopovers in the US would not be affected by Chen Shui-bian's plan to hold a referendum on joining the UN under the name "Taiwan."
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