Taipei, Aug. 30 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian headed for theCentral American states of Panama and Belize for a visit Monday night.
In a brief speech before he boarded his plane at the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, the president said he delayed and cut short his trip because of the disaster caused by Typhoon Aere on Aug. 24, saying that although the disaster is of great concern, diplomacy is also vital for the country and is his task.
Chen urged his administration to keep working hard to reconstruct the diaster-affected areas during his overseas trip.
The president will attend the inauguration of Panamanian President-elect Martin Torrijos Sept. 1, traveling via Hawaii, and will continue to Belize Sept. 2.
He will arrive in Seattle Sept. 3 for an eight-hour stopover on his way back to Taiwan and will arrive home Sept. 5.