Late in the evening of January 23, President Ma Ying-jeou departed on a trip to two of the ROC's diplomatic allies in Africa and one in Central America. During brief remarks prior to boarding the aircraft, he expressed hope that these visits would further solidify alliances and enhance cooperation with the ROC's allies.
The president stated that this journey would take him to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe as well as Burkina Faso in Africa, and the Republic of Honduras in Central America. He said that this would mark his first visit to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe as president, while it would be his second trip to Burkina Faso and Honduras. President Ma also explained that he would make a transit stop in Los Angeles on his way back to Taiwan, where the return date was scheduled for January 30 in the early morning hours of what would be Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve, he said.
President Ma stated that there were two primary objectives for the trip. First, he remarked, he was invited to visit Sao Tome and Principe by that nation's president Manuel Pinto da Costa. The president said he would take advantage of his visit to review the achievements of bilateral cooperation projects, adding that this trip would enhance interaction between the two nations. Second, he noted, he would attend the inauguration of Honduran President-elect Juan Orlando Hernandez. President Ma stated that four years ago he traveled to Honduras to attend the presidential inauguration, and that he was invited to attend the event again this time. This trip, he said, would boost the alliance between the two nations. The president mentioned that he would also make a brief stopover in Burkina Faso during this itinerary to have discussions with Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore. This, President Ma said, would enable him to better understand the current state of development in Burkina Faso. The two leaders would also exchange opinions on bilateral cooperation projects.
President Ma pointed out that the ROC has a total of 15 diplomatic allies in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and that during this trip he would visit three of them. The ROC, through bilateral cooperation projects, is sharing its development experiences with these countries in the areas of agriculture, medicine, education, and tourism, he said. In particular, solar energy is one area in which he would like to see new cooperation models introduced. This would not only respond favorably to international trends, but would also add further depth to bilateral relationships, the president remarked.
President Ma mentioned that, in addition to members of his administration and the heads of several government agencies, the delegation also included representatives of the corporate and academic communities, as well as members of the media. He expressed hope that everyone taking part in the trip would, by actually setting foot in these countries, better understand the various cooperation projects and interaction being carried out between the ROC and these allied nations.
The president stated that he would travel nearly 42,000 kilometers during the trip and traverse a wide range of latitudes. Within a 24-hour period, he remarked, he would visit places with a vast extreme in temperatures, ranging from below-zero temperatures in Germany to 27 degree Celsius in balmy Sao Tome and Principe. President Ma said that while this trip would be physically challenging, it nevertheless constitutes an important journey from a diplomatic perspective. He noted that the visits to these nations would pave the way for even more visits overseas and greater interaction. Visiting these countries is mutually beneficial and generates greater prosperity, commented the president.