President Ma Ying-jeou continued his visit to the ROC's Latin American allies, codenamed the Forever Rising Project, visiting the old colonial city of Granada in Nicaragua. In a ceremony held at the San Francisco Convent (Convento de San Francisco), Granada Mayor Julia de la Cruz Mena Rivera presented President Ma with a key to the city and an honorary certificate, highlighting the friendship between the governments and peoples of the two nations.
In remarks, the president commented on the beautiful scenery of Granada and its rich history, as well as the artistic and cultural heritage that has long made it famous throughout the world. He said that he was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the city and that its reputation is deserved. The city is also renowned for its annual International Poetry Festival (Festival Internacional de Poesía), with poets from the ROC including Marian Lee (李勤岸), Lee Min-yung (李敏勇), Cheng Chou-yu (鄭愁予), Walis Nokan (瓦歷斯諾幹), and Chen Yuhong (陳育虹) having been invited in the past to take part. People have made friends and exchanged creative experiences through poetry, helping to add depth to literary, historical and cultural interaction between the two nations, President Ma said.
The president went on to express his deepest gratitude to the government and people of Nicaragua for their warm reception, and hopes that this trip will further enhance the bilateral friendship.
After finishing his remarks, the president and Mayor Mena, along with Rudy Acevedo, Secretary of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) in Granada Department, and Minister of Tourism Mayra Salinas enjoyed a traditional song and dance performance. The president then received a tour of the city in a horse-drawn carriage, and also visited a memorial stele commemorating the ROC's centenary.
The delegation from the ROC then headed to Augusto C. Sandino International Airport where President Ma was escorted by Nicaraguan Vice President Moises Omar Halleslevens and saluted by the honor guard. President Ma then boarded his chartered aircraft, marking an end to his visit to Nicaragua.