President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Sunday was warmly welcomed by US officials during a visit to a Taiwanese ethylene manufacturing plant in Point Comfort, Texas, during a stopover in Houston en route to Guatemala as part of his last overseas diplomatic trip before his term ends in May.
After Ma and his entourage arrived in Houston, they visited the Texas factory of Taiwan’s Formosa Plastics Group (FPG) in Point Comfort, accompanied by three local officials — Point Comfort Mayor Pam Lambden, Port Lavaca Mayor Jack Whitlow and Calhoun County Judge Michael Pfeifer.
Whitlow presented Ma with a key to the city and declared March 13 “President Ma Ying-jeou Day” as a goodwill gesture.
Photo: CNA
Ma’s visit underscored Taiwan’s investment in Texas, Whitlow said.
In return, Ma presented Whitlow with a tea service.
The FPG factory is Taiwan’s largest investment in the US. Since it was established in 1980, more than US$4.8 billion has been invested in the factory.
Taking into account its current expansion project, total investment is to reach US$6.8 billion, accounting for more than 50 percent of the total amount of US$13.1 billion Taiwan has invested in the US.
FPG employs 3,800 people in the US, including nearly 2,000 workers hired by the Texas factory. The factory has contracts with 800 manufacturers in neighboring areas.
Earlier in the day, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said at a luncheon party in Houston that Taiwan and his state have long maintained close economic and trade relations, adding that he hopes such ties would be further strengthened.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott reportedly made a telephone call to Ma and was said to have extended a warm welcome.
US legislators, including US House of Representatives members Peter Sessions, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Pete Olson and Blake Farenthold, said that they attach great importance to several peace initiatives proposed by Ma for the East Asia region, as well as the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
After his visit to the FPG factory, Ma attended a dinner party in his honor, during which he was welcomed by Taiwanese expats and US politicians, including US House of Representatives member Blake Farenthold and Texas House of Representatives members Gene Wu, Sarah Davis and Phil Stephenson.
In recognition of the importance of its relationship with Taiwan, Houston also announced March 13 as “Taiwanese Friendship Day.”
Ma left Houston on Monday morning for Guatemala, where he began a seven-day, two-nation visit that is to also take him to Belize, another of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the region.
He is to make a transit stop in Los Angeles on his way back to Taipei after his visit to Belize.
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