The Presidential Office announced at a press conference on the afternoon of June 22 that President Ma Ying-jeou and Mrs. Ma will lead a delegation to the Republic of Panama, a diplomatic ally of the ROC, on June 29 to attend the inauguration of that nation's President-elect Ricardo Martinelli. President Ma will also visit Nicaragua and Honduras while in the region. 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 delegation will depart on June 29. After transiting in San Francisco, California, the delegation will arrive in the Republic of Panama on June 30. President Ma will attend the inauguration of President-elect Martinelli on July 1. The president and his delegation are slated to leave Panama on July 2 and travel to Nicaragua, where they will stay for one night. President Ma will then travel to Honduras on July 3 and stay in that nation for two evenings, after which he will return to Taiwan by way of Hawaii.
Vice Minister Hou said that in addition to attending inauguration-related activities while in Panama, President Ma will also be interviewed by the international media and will hold a banquet for members of the overseas compatriot community there. Joining President and Mrs. Ma on this trip will be members of the Legislative Yuan, mayors of cities and counties, and representatives of the academic and business communities, who will interact with their counterparts in the respective countries. In addition, given the important strategic status of the Panama Canal in Central America, the president will tour the area and witness the passage of an ROC-registered vessel through the canal. The Ju Percussion Group has been invited to take to the stage with local groups and perform during the evening gala to celebrate the inauguration of Panama's new president.
During the visit to Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega Saavedra will personally drive and escort President Ma on a tour of bilateral cooperation projects. This will also offer President Ma an opportunity to come in contact with members of the public. Nicaragua will hold its first trade show from July 1 to July 5. As Taiwan firms will be taking part in the fair, President Ma will be on hand to cut the ribbon. This also reflects the theme of this journey, which focuses on economic, trade and technical cooperation, as well as diplomacy.
President Ma's itinerary in Honduras will center on areas of technical cooperation between the two countries. The president will visit the sites of various cooperation projects, along with computer learning centers that have been established in Honduras by the ROC. As the Honduran National Assembly will be in recess during President Ma's visit, Honduras is making special arrangements for a meeting between President Ma and the Speaker of the National Assembly. In addition, President Ma has been invited to deliver an address before a special meeting of the National Assembly.
With regards to arrangements for Mrs. Ma, Vice Minister Hou said that while in Panama she will visit Nutre Hogar, a non-profit organization sponsored by Panama's First Lady dedicated to the prevention of child malnutrition in Panama. During her stay in Nicaragua, she will interact with youngsters at a local children's development center. Meanwhile, her itinerary while in Honduras will focus on understanding the state of the underprivileged in that country.
Vice Minister Hou also remarked that in addition to government officials, lawmakers, mayors of cities and counties, and representatives of the business community and philanthropic organizations, university presidents have also been invited to join the delegation. Also, members of the Ju Percussion Group will participate in the journey. A total of 129 people will be in the delegation, including others involved in the planning of the trip and security personnel.