Nicaragua FM to visit Taiwan in late March

Simon Ko, director-general of the MOFA's Department of Central and South American Affairs, said at a routine news conference that the purpose of Santo's upcoming visit is to discuss the details of a cooperative project between the two countries.

According to Ko, Taiwan Foreign Affairs Minister James Huang and his Nicaraguan counterpart signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in January on cooperation in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua while President Chen Shui-bian's was attending President Daniel Ortega's inauguration.

The MOU seeks to promote direct foreign investment in high-tech and high value-added products in Nicaragua and joint ventures with Taiwan businesses, cooperation on water resources and health issues, and upgrading the competitive edge of Nicaraguan products at home and overseas.

If Santos can visit Taiwan later this month as scheduled, it will his first official visit to the nation, Ko pointed out.

Noting that Nicaragua is one of Taiwan's major diplomatic allies in Central America, Ko said that the government will also invite Ortega to visit Taiwan in the near future to boost bilateral relations.

Ko further said Chen's attendance at Ortega's inauguration was vital to stepping up future cooperation ties between the two countries. He went on that Taiwan will continue to help Nicaragua promote its agricultural development and medical care.

Ortega, leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (SNLF) who made the decision to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan at the start of his previous term in 1985, was elected to the presidency in November last year, so the question of whether there would be a change in bilateral diplomatic relations became a focus of public attention.

Chen attended Ortega's inauguration Nov. 10 at the head of a Taiwan delegation and met with his Nicaraguan counterpart to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in the future, with Ortega promising to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Asked about a media report that Saint Lucia might sever its diplomatic ties with China after former Prime Minister John Compton re-assumed his post following his party's victory in last December's general elections, Ko said the new Santa Lucian primer minister maintains good relations with Taiwan and that the MOFA will spare no efforts to expand relations with that Caribbean state.

Taiwan established diplomatic relations with Saint Lucia in 1984 when Compton was prime minister, but when Kenny Anthony came to power in 1997, he switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in late August of that year.