The Presidential Office announced on January 11 that President Chen Shui-bian will lead a delegation to the Republic of Guatemala on January 13 to participate in the inauguration ceremonies of President-elect Alvaro Colom. During the trip to the region, the president will also make a stop in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia, which is a diplomatic ally.
The president is scheduled to depart from Taipei aboard a 10:50 a.m. flight on January 13. The president's plane will make a technical stopover in Anchorage, Alaska for refueling. The president and his delegation will continue on to Guatemala the afternoon of the same day, staying in the Central American nation for three days. On January 15, President Chen will leave Guatemala and head for St. Lucia for a short visit. On January 16, the president will complete his journey and begin the journey back to Taiwan. On the return, the aircraft will again make a refueling stop in Anchorage, with a scheduled arrival time in Taipei at 6:05 a.m. on January 18.
The president's trip this time is being labeled "The Journey of Mutual Friendship and Sustained Development." The theme is aimed at expressing the importance that the ROC (Taiwan) places on its diplomatic alliances, as well as the strategic partnerships it seeks to bolster with its diplomatic allies in Central America and the Caribbean based on the principle of mutual benefit. The president will seek to not only further solidify bilateral ties and strengthen cooperative relations on this trip, but also to boost morale among the Taiwan diplomatic corps in the two countries as well as overseas compatriots.
Guatemala held the second round of its presidential election on November 4 last year. Alvaro Colom, the candidate from the National Unity of Hope party (UNE), emerged as the winner in the election and he will be inaugurated as president on January 14. Guatemala's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gert Rosenthal in December sent a letter to ROC Minister of Foreign Affairs James C. F. Huang, extending an invitation on behalf of Guatemala President Oscar Berger Perdomo to President Chen to attend the inauguration.
President-elect Colom is a friend to the ROC. He visited Taiwan in 1994 while serving as the director of the National Peace Foundation (FONAPAZ). After winning the presidential election, President-elect Colom has taken the initiative to contact ROC diplomats in Guatemala to express his intention to continue to maintain the diplomatic alliance with the ROC (Taiwan). President-elect Colom has made similar remarks in interviews with the local and international press. President Chen offered his sincerest congratulations on President-elect Colom's victory over a telephone call soon after the presidential election of Guatemala. President-elect Colom also contacted the ROC embassy in his nation to invite President Chen to attend his inauguration. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended that President Chen attend the inauguration in order to boost friendship between the president-elect and Taiwan, as well as to strengthen the bilateral relationship with the new Guatemalan government. In addition, President Chen will have an opportunity to meet with other heads of state and political leaders during his stay in Guatemala, enabling the leaders to exchange opinions on issues of mutual concern.
Another goal of this journey is for President Chen to visit the Caribbean diplomatic ally of St. Lucia, which resumed formal diplomatic relations with the ROC (Taiwan) in April of last year. The president has long expressed his desire to visit St. Lucia while still in office in order to express Taiwan's complete support for the bilateral relationship. St. Lucia offers gorgeous scenery and friendly people. St. Lucia has long been referred to the Helen of the West Indies, which embodies the same feelings as the name Formosa, which Taiwan is commonly called. After resuming diplomatic relations last year, the two nations entered into a range of cooperative projects in the areas of public health, education, culture and eco-tourism. St. Lucia Prime Minister Stephenson King has repeatedly in public expressed his staunch support for Taiwan. President Chen wants to take advantage of his trip to the region to visit St. Lucia and further cement the friendly relationship between the two countries.
During his stay in St. Lucia, President Chen will meet with both Prime Minister King and Governor-General Pearlette Louisy. He will also visit St. Joseph's Girls' High School, which is that nation's top high school for girls. The president plans to also survey the damage to the pediatric ward and the No. 6 ward of Victoria Hospital that was caused by a hurricane that swept through St. Lucia last year. He will express concern on behalf of the 23 million people of Taiwan and examine the state of repairs, which are being carried out with assistance provided by Taiwan. Moreover, in a move to help publicize tourism development in St. Lucia, the president will be accompanied by local officials on a tour of the coast by yacht. He will invite the accompanying press corps to join him, seeking the assistance of everyone in supporting Taiwan's diplomatic efforts.