President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday urged Washington to sign an extradition agreement with Taiwan and offer visa-free privileges to Taiwanese visitors during his stopover in Los Angeles en route to Central America.
Ma is leading a 159-member delegation to attend the inauguration of El Salvadoran president-elect Mauricio Funes on Monday. He made a one-night stopover in Los Angeles yesterday on his way there and will stop in Seattle on his way back. The trip will also take Ma to Belize and Guatemala.
Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦), who is accompanying Ma on the trip, told reporters after Ma’s closed-door meeting with American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt at his hotel that the two exchanged opinions on the extradition agreement and visa-free privileges.
Ma has promised not to make any public appearances during his short stays in the US. All activities will be conducted at his hotel, including meetings and telephone conversations with friends and US officials.
Ma also met Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, California Representative Ed Royce and California Representative Ed Sherman.
Those who talked with Ma on the telephone included Nevada Senator John Ensign and Representative Phil Gingrey of Georgia. Wang said Ma invited them to visit Taiwan and asked them for support on the issues that his administration hoped to advance.
During the dinner with overseas compatriots, Wang said Burghardt recognized the “achievement” of Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer this year. Ma also pledged to continue efforts to participate in specialized UN agency activities, Wang said.
Ma told the 300 guests that his administration has adopted various measures to tackle the effects of the global financial crisis. Ma said public confidence was being restored.
He said is administration has also improved cross-strait relations, compensating for what was lost over the past eight years.
While the opposition has questioned whether sovereignty has been compromised during cross-strait negotiations, Ma said the country’s sovereignty has never been denigrated nor its dignity jeopardized.
Citing the WHA as an example, Ma said the country attended the meeting with dignity and his administration would continue to develop the country in a safe and honorable manner.
On the topic of an economic pact his administration intends to sign with Beijing, Ma said his administration would continue to communicate with the opposition.
He also recognized Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu’s (陳菊) recent trip to China and encouraged Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members to follow her footsteps to “courageously engage with the mainland.”
To avoid attracting too much media attention, first lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青) canceled all activities outside the hotel.
The delegation arrived in Belize yesterday and will leave for Guatemala on Friday.
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