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Ma likely to meet Clinton: envoy

Two girls hold Republic of China flags as they welcome President Ma Ying-jeou and first lady Chow Mei-ching on their arrival in Guatemala on Friday. PHOTO: CNA

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) could meet US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton tomorrow when the two attend the inauguration of El Salvadoran president-elect Mauricio Funes.

Ambassador to El Salvador Carlos Liao (廖世傑) said Ma would be seated on the stage next to outgoing Panamanian President Martin Torrijos and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, while Clinton was due to sit off the stage with other dignitaries.

There is a big chance that the two would meet “accidentally,” he said.

Despite Funes’ public advocacy of forging closer ties with Beijing during his election campaign, Liao said China had not arranged to send a delegation to the inauguration before registration closed on Monday.

Liao was tight-tipped about Ma’s bilateral talks with other leaders, saying arrangements were still being made.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Hou (侯清山) said prior to Ma’s trip that the ministry was arranging bilateral meetings between Ma and leaders and representatives attending the inauguration. Ortega and Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya had agreed to attend the talks, Hou said.

Ma is leading a 159-member delegation to attend Funes’ inauguration, bringing first lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青), local government heads, student representatives, college principals and a performance group.

He made a one-night stopover in Los Angeles on his way to El Salvador and will stop in Seattle on his way back. Ma, who left Belize for Guatemala on Thursday, had talks with Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom, who welcomed Ma with a 21-gun salute and a military honor guard.

The two issued a joint statement after exchanging views on bilateral and multi-lateral relations as well as the international situation.

Ma and Colom expressed satisfaction over Taiwan and Guatemala’s long-standing friendship and close cooperation, pledging to strengthen joint efforts in politics, foreign affairs, trade, technology and culture. They also recognized the progress of a cooperation project for highway expansion.

Ma, who gave Colom a Taiwanese bicycle as a gift, instructed the embassy to give Colom’s wife another one after the Guatemalan president mentioned that he and his wife have recently developed a new passion for cycling.

Previously in Belize, Ma and Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow held talks and reached a consensus on strengthening cooperation in fishing and agriculture.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou (歐鴻鍊), who accompanied Ma on the trip, said detailed projects would be proposed after each side’s government officials, experts and academics conclude their visits.

“We want to teach them how to fish, and not just give them fish,” he said.

Ou said learning from previous experience, the ministry would no longer distribute foreign aid as lump sums but instead distribute it in accordance with the progress of cooperation projects.

Ma and his delegation are scheduled to leave for El Salvador today.
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