The Office of the President held a press conference on the morning of June 29 to announce that, from July 11 to July 18, President Ma Ying-jeou will lead an ROC delegation to visit three diplomatic allies—the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nicaragua. Presidential Office Spokesperson Charles I-hsin Chen (陳以信) presided over the press conference announcing the trip, while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Shen-Yeaw Ko (柯森耀) explained the planned itinerary.
Deputy Minister Ko stated that in response to invitations from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nicaragua, President Ma will visit all three countries between July 11 and July 18 this year to strengthen diplomatic relations with our allies in Latin America and the Caribbean while highlighting the achievements of the nation's "viable diplomacy" policy.
Deputy Minister Ko remarked that this trip, codenamed the Forever Rising Project, speaks to the pursuit of enduring friendship and positive progress with ROC allies, and a sincere willingness to deepen bilateral ties. Among those accompanying the president will be National Security Council Secretary-General Kao Hua-chu (高華柱), Deputy Secretary-General to the President Hsu-Tsen Hsiao (蕭旭岑), Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin (林永樂), heads of the relevant government agencies, members of the Legislative Yuan, and representatives from the business sector. The delegation, he said, is expected to depart Taiwan on July 11 and return on July 18. During the eight-day/seven-night trip, the president will first visit the Dominican Republic, followed by Haiti and Nicaragua. The president, he went on to say, will transit in Boston, Massachusetts on the outbound leg and stop in Los Angeles, California on his return.
Deputy Minister Ko also mentioned that President Ma will meet with the leaders of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nicaragua and conduct wide-ranging and in-depth discussions centering on issues of mutual interest and international affairs, hoping to further strengthen bilateral alliances. The president, on behalf of the government, will also host banquets for overseas compatriots residing in the three nations, along with staff members of the ROC's embassies and their families to acknowledge the importance of their work overseas and express the government's concern and appreciation.