President Chen Shui-bian, now in Nicaragua on the "Joint Prosperity and Continued Friendship" journey, held a reception with the press entourage traveling with him on January 9 at 9:30 p.m. local time (January 10 at 11:30 a.m. Taipei time).
President Chen pointed out that the primary goal of this trip is to participate in the inauguration ceremonies of President-elect Daniel Ortega Saavedra. President Chen said that when meeting with Vice President-elect Jaime Morales Carazo, the new vice president specially mentioned that the new Nicaraguan government plans to move out of the present presidential building, and the building will be refitted to serve as a home for the underprivileged. The building thereafter will be known as "The Taiwan Home." President Chen said he understands the situation and respects the decision of the new Nicaraguan government and that of the country's new president. He added that he believes this is an excellent way to bring the peoples of both nations closer together.
President Chen said that he earlier met with President-elect Ortega and his wife, as well as with several other important leaders at the FSLN party headquarters for over an hour. President-elect Ortega said after the new government takes office, Nicaragua will continue to maintain formal diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). However, he said the FSLN will also maintain contacts and interaction with the Chinese Communist Party. He said the new government will also welcome the People's Republic of China to establish a trade office in Nicaragua similar to those it maintains in Panama and the Dominican Republic. To this point, however, Beijing has yet to make a formal response, he said.
President-elect Ortega also mentioned possible areas for future cooperation between the two nations in addition to economic cooperation. He hopes that his aides and staff will carry out a dialogue to establish a cooperative relationship between the new government and Taiwan. He added that he hopes for further exchanges between political parties, namely interaction and cooperation between the FSLN and political parties on Taiwan. President Chen embraced his suggestions and expressed his thanks.
Over the coming two days, President Chen will hold bilateral consultations with all of the heads of state, presidents or prime ministers of Central American or Caribbean nations that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan and who are in Managua for the inauguration ceremonies. The president said that this trip offers a precious opportunity to not only strengthen the Taiwan-Nicaragua alliance, but also bolster Taiwan's cooperative relationships with other allied nations in Central America and the Caribbean.
President Chen reiterated his gratitude to the government of the United States for allowing him to stop-over in San Francisco, California on his way to Nicaragua. He especially thanked President Bush, the National Security Agency and the State Department for providing courtesies to him while in transit. In addition to meeting with members of the overseas compatriot community, President Chen said he was delighted to meet with former US Secretary of Defense William Perry, the vice president of the University of California at Berkeley and AIT Director Raymond Burghardt while in San Francisco. He also spoke with Congressional leaders in Washington D.C. over the telephone. President Chen said he was especially pleased with his talks with high-ranking officials in administrative agencies in Washington D.C., adding that he appreciates the welcome he received. President Chen reiterated that he will continue to honor pledges he has made to the American government and President Bush.