Basotho charged for wanting to attend Taiwan-Africa forum

Two from Lesotho were charged with treason for expressing the intent to attend today's Taiwan-Africa Progressive Partnership Forum, Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) said yesterday.

Huang to offer any more details but said that leaders of the country's five African allies and representatives from another 35 African nations had been invited.

Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs African Affairs Department Chang Yun-ping (張雲屏) said that she expected to see representatives from half of the invited countries show up.

pressure

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Tzu-pao (楊子葆) had earlier said that 200 invitations had been sent and that confirmations of attendance had been received from 120 guests.

Because China usually contacts diplomats to pressure them not to meet Taiwanese officials, they only expected approximately 80 guests to attend.

The event is being organized by the Association for International NGO Studies and will be held at the Grand Hotel.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and leaders of the nation's five African allies have been invited to deliver the opening remarks.

Participants include government officials, parliamentarians, representatives from the industrial and academic sectors and non-governmental organizations.

development

Issues include information technology, digital opportunities, business management, trade and economic development, healthcare, international medical cooperation, the environment, humanitarian relief, international development and cooperation, development of agricultural technology and cross-border cooperation.

Because the physical distances and cultural differences, organizers said that they hoped to use the forum as an interaction platform to gradually strengthen partnerships with African countries.