President Ma's Nicaragua visit still on itinerary: minister

Ma, who is currently in Panama for the inauguration of the new Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, is scheduled to travel to neighboring Nicaragua Friday on a state visit.

Following the sudden death of Managua Mayor Alexis Arguello and amid speculations that Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega would be accompanying deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya to return to Honduras, Taiwanese reporters covering Ma's Central American diplomatic tour have been speculating on whether Ma's Nicaragua visit would be affected.

Responding to media inquiries, Ou said Ma's plans to travel to Nicaragua remain in place.

Touching on Arguello's death, Ou said the Nicaraguan president and foreign minister had not traveled to Panama City for Martinelli's inaugural ceremony.

As some Taiwanese local government chiefs who are accompanying Ma on the current diplomatic journey were originally scheduled to meet Arguello, Ou said their itinerary would be adjusted because of the mayor's death.

Arguello, a former boxing champion-turned-politician, was found dead at his home early Wednesday. Coroners were conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of his death. Local media reports said it appeared to be case of suicide.

According to Ou, Ma and members of his delegation will extend condolences on Arguello's death when they arrive in Managua.

Ma, accompanied by his wife and a large delegation of officials, business executives and performing artists, arrived in Panama City Tuesday for a three-day state visit.

Besides attending Martinelli's July 1 inauguration, Ma is scheduled to tour the Panama Canal and preside over the opening of a digitalized Mandarin-learning classroom housed in the Taiwan-Panama Culture Center in Panama City. He will also address Panama's new parliament and visit a container port in Colon that was built by Taiwan's Evergreen Marine Corp.

Following his Panama visit, Ma will travel to Nicaragua where Ortega is scheduled to drive him to the hub of a bilateral technological cooperation project.

He will also visit a trade fair at which many Taiwanese companies will be showing their latest products.

Ma and his entourage will make a layover stop in Hawaii on their way home July 6.

His itinerary originally included a two-day visit to Honduras, but Ma decided to cancel his travel plan there after Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was arrested and forced into exile by military leaders Sunday ahead of a controversial constitutional referendum.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email