Nicaraguan leader to visit

Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos Geyer will lead a 17-member delegation that will arrive in Taiwan on Monday for a four-day official visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. According to the ministry, President Chen Shui-bian will preside over a welcoming and honors ceremony, followed by a state banquet for Bolanos. The two will hold talks and sign a joint communique to promote bilateral exchanges. During his stay in Taiwan, Bolanos will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien, Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and the well-known religious leader Shi Cheng-Yen (釋證嚴). He will also visit the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park and some other economic and social establishments. The 74-year-old Bolanos was former president Arnoldo Aleman Lacayo's vice president. He won the presidency and took office in January. This will be his fourth visit to Taiwan.