Vice President Annette Lu (
Accompanied by a 43-member entourage, Lu flew into the Panamanian capital from Los Angeles to a warm welcome from senior Panamanian officials, Taiwan's embassy staff and executives of major Taiwanese trade associations in Panama.
Aboard a chartered plane taking her from Los Angeles to Panama City, Lu said that she hopes her visit to Panama will help consolidate diplomatic relations.
With the number of immigrants from China to Panama increasing rapidly in recent years, Lu said the Chinese community population structure has undergone significant changes.
Panama now has about 80,000 immigrants from China and 50,000 ethnic Chinese, while the number of new immigrants from Taiwan is only about 300.
Against this backdrop, Lu said, Taiwan must step up efforts to boost exchanges and cooperation with Panama.
President Chen Shui-bian (
With a view to enhancing bilateral ties, Lu said that she asked the president to allow her to make a brief visit to Panama on her way to Paraguay, where she will represent Chen at the inaugural ceremony for that country's new president.
"It is necessary that to enhance the communication between Taiwan and Panama, that is the reason I am here," Lu said.
"But speculation about whether the visit was arranged due to the shakiness of the two countries' diplomatic ties were totally groundless," Lu said.
Lu was to meet with Panamanian Vice President Dominador Kaiser Bazan Jimenez yesterday for wide-ranging talks. Bazan will honor Lu by awarding her a medal.
Lu was also schdeduled to meet with Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso and attend a ceremony marking the completion of a Taiwan-financed facelift of the building that houses Panama's Ministry of the Interior.
Before arriving in Panama, Lu made transit stops in Hawaii and Los Angeles, where she met with American lawmakers as well as state and city officials to discuss a range of topics.
After the Panama visit, Lu will fly to Asuncion to attend the Paraguayan presidential inauguration on Friday. While there, Lu will deliver speeches at the Paraguayan parliament and also at Asuncion University.
On her way back to Taiwan, Lu is scheduled to make a two-day transit stop in Seattle.
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