A press conference was held at the Office of the President on the afternoon of May 18 to announce that President Ma and Mrs. Ma will lead a delegation to the Central American allies of Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador starting May 26. The president will attend the inauguration of El Salvador's President-elect Mauricio Funes on this trip. Presidential Spokesman Wang Yu-chi presided over the press conference, while Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Ching-shan Hou explained the itinerary for President Ma's upcoming trip.
Vice Minister Hou said that the trip will revolve around the theme of "humanitarianism and assistance," while the formal name of the journey is "Project Sustained Harmony." The delegation will depart on the afternoon of May 26 and return to Taiwan on the afternoon of June 4. On his journey to Central America, President Ma will stop over in Los Angeles for one night, after which he will continue to Belize and Guatemala, and then to El Salvador to attend the inauguration of President-elect Funes. The president will stay in each of the three Central American countries for two evenings. On the return, the president's plane will fly directly from El Salvador to Seattle, Washington, where President Ma will lay over for one night before the last leg of his journey back to Taiwan.
Vice Minister Hou furthermore said that during the president's visit to Belize, he will not only exchange decorations with the Governor General of Belize Sir Colville Young, but will also deliver an address before a joint session of that nation's National Assembly. The address will focus on the achievements associated with the ROC government's economic and political initiatives over the past year. President Ma will also meet with Prime Minister Dean Barrow and other members of the Belize Cabinet. While in Belize, the president will host a dinner for Chinese compatriots there, Taiwan's technical mission in Belize, as well as overseas volunteers and alternative servicemen who are stationed in Belize.
Upon completion of his visit to Belize, the president will lead his delegation to Guatemala. Besides meeting with President Alvaro Colom and delivering an address before the National Assembly, President Ma will journey to Tikal National Park to see cultural remains of the Mayan civilization and visit the ancient city of Antigua to better understand the state of bilateral cultural interaction and work being carried out to restore monasteries in the area.
Lastly, the president will travel to El Salvador where he will first meet with President Elías Antonio Saca. President Ma will personally express his appreciation to President Saca for his support for the ROC's participation in international organizations as well as bilateral cooperation. The two heads of state will jointly preside over a ceremony to mark the completion of a new building for El Salvador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President Ma will also attend the inauguration of President-elect Mauricio Funes and meet with Republic of Honduras President José Manuel Zelaya and Republic of Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega Saavedra.
Vice Minister Hou remarked that in addition to ranking officials from government ministries and agencies, lawmakers and mayors of cities and towns, representatives of Taiwan's youth organizations, the NGO Affairs Committee and students have been invited to join the delegation. The trip will enable participants to see first-hand the true meaning of diplomacy based on humanitarianism and assistance. Meanwhile, 16 members of the Ju Percussion Group will also go on this journey and perform in each of the three Central American nations, thus contributing to Taiwan's efforts at promoting cultural diplomacy.