Ma highlights Taiwan-Nicaragua ties

Ma flew into Managua from Panama City and was greeted by Nicaragua's Vice President Jaime Morales at the airport with a solemn military ceremony.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's absence at the airport fueled growing speculation of tensions between Nicaragua and Taiwan that gained momentum last month when Ortega repeatedly postponed a scheduled meeting with Ma in San Salvador before Ma called it off.

The two were there to attend the June 1 inauguration of El Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes.

The Nicaraguan president explained later Friday, however, that he could not welcome Ma at the airport because he was helping arrange the funeral of late Managua Mayor Alexis Arguello, who committed suicide earlier this week.

After giving a short address upon his arrival, Ma made an improvised decision to head for the funeral of Arguello directly from the airport before meeting with Ortega at the Presidential Office.

The two presidents discussed issues of mutual concern at the Presidential Office and Ma presented a bicycle made by Taiwan's Giant Manufacturing as a gift to the Central American leader.

According to Ortega, his meeting with Ma served as clear proof that Taiwan-Nicaragua relations remained close and cordial, and he said that both would continue to strive for better links between the two countries.

Following the meeting at the Presidential Office, Ortega drove Ma to Masapete, a small town near Managua, to inspect a kidney bean production project that is being operated jointly by a Taiwanese technical delegation and local authorities in line with the country's anti-poverty program.

Over the past two years, Masapete farmers have grown 222 metric tons of kidney beans on 208 hectares of farmland — sufficient to meet 20 percent of the country's commercial needs. Kidney beans are one of the staples in Nicaragua.

Ma promised on the spot that Taiwan will fully support the anti-poverty plan launched by Ortega to help combat hunger in the Central American country.

Regardless of the global economic situation, ongoing cooperation ventures undertaken between Taiwan and its allies will not be affected, Ma pledged.

The president said Taiwan is willing to share its development experience with Nicaragua on many fronts including agriculture, industry and education.

Taiwan is also poised to help Nicaragua develop small businesses and wipe out illiteracy across the country, he added.

Nicaraguan authorities held a state banquet in honor of Ma Friday afternoon, but Ortegawas was again a no-show, prompting more speculation. Morales presided over the ceremony on Ortega's behalf.

According to Wu Chin-mu, Taiwan's ambassador to Nicaragua, Ortega was absent because he had to handle a border dispute with Honduras.

Wu said Ortega had phoned him the previous night and apologized for his absence.

Tsai Chung-li, an aide to President Ma, said Ma expressed his understanding of Ortega's absence.

“Ortega had to deal with something urgent and could not preside over the state banquet, and President Ma said he respected the host's decision,” Tsai said, stressing that “Taiwan-Nicaragua relations remain stable.”

Meanwhile, Ma is slated to return to Taiwan July 6 after wrapping up his two-day visit in Nicaragua —the second leg, after Panama, of his two-country Central American tour.

Ma and his wife, Chow Mei-ching, arrived in Panama City June 30 to attend the July 1 inauguration of President Ricardo Martinelli.

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