Deputy Secretary-General to the President Chen Chi-mai on June 28 presided over a press conference at the Presidential Building, formally announcing that Vice President Annette Lu will leave on July 2 to visit diplomatic allies in Latin America. Vice President Lu's destinations will cover Paraguay, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala.
July 8 this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the ROC (Taiwan) and Paraguay. Paraguay extended an invitation to Vice President Lu to visit the nation for celebrating the strong friendship between the two countries that has spanned half a century. Arrangements have been made for the trip to express the importance that Taiwan places on the allied relationship between the two countries.
In addition, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala have continuously provided unwavering support for Taiwan in its bid to participate in the World Health Organization and the United Nations. Furthermore, high-ranking government officials from the countries have frequent contacts. Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez Reyna and Guatemala President Oscar Berger Perdomo led delegations to Taiwan in 2006 and this year, respectively. Vice President Lu has decided to include the two countries in her Latin America trip as a friendly gesture in the wake of the visits by President Fernandez and President Berger. She will also pay visits to overseas compatriots in those two countries.
Vice President Lu will depart on July 2 and return to Taipei on July 11. In addition to bolstering exchanges with allies in Latin America on this trip, Vice President Lu hopes to foster a better understanding of Taiwan in the international community. It is expected that Taiwan's international image also will get a boost from the nation's pursuit of the universal values of democracy, peace and human rights.