Taipei, Aug. 5 (CNA) Vice President Annette Lu announced at a news conference Tuesday that she will lead a delegation to Asuncion, Paraguay as President Chen Shui-bian's envoy to the inauguration of president-elect Nicanor Duarte on Aug. 15.
Lu and her 43-member entourage will leave Taipei on Thursday, and visit Hawaii, Los Angeles and Panama on her way to Asuncion.
While in Panama, her Panamanian counterpart Dominador Kaiser Bazan Jimenez will honor her by awarding her a medal.
During her stay in Paraguay, the vice president said she will give one speech each at the parliament and Asuncion University.
On her way back to Taiwan, the vice president said she will visit Seattle.
Lu chose to make stopovers in western America to promote an international conference to be organized by Taiwan in September for leaders of cities around the Pacific Rim.
She is slated to return to Taipei on Aug. 20.