Chen had promised to visit Belize after winning the elections. In March, his victory came by a narrow and still disputed margin, but in fulfillment of his pledge, Mr. Chen today arrived for his historic visit.
He was accompanied by Belize Prime Minister, Hon. Said Musa, and other government officials from both governments who had traveled to Panama for the inauguration of that country?s newly elected president, Martin Torrijos. A Taiwanese media corps also arrived with the Taiwanese President.
This afternoon in Belmopan, both Chen and Musa were expected to honor each other with the highest state awards for their respective countries – Chen to be awarded the Order of Belize and Musa to be awarded Taiwan?s Award of Propitious Clouds.
The two leaders were also expected to sign a joint communiqu? today to further bilateral cooperation; however, at press time, there was no official information released on the signing and contents of the communiqu?.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) President overnights in Belize, but leaves the country tomorrow morning, Friday, after he attends a groundbreaking ceremony for an indoor sporting facility at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex in Belize City.
President Chen is visiting the Americas on a diplomatic tour, and Belize was his second stop after Panama.
News reports posted by Taiwan?s Government Information Office say that Chen had held bilateral talks with representatives of several of Taiwan?s Central American allies who had also attended the Torrijos inauguration.
Belize continues to be one of Taiwan?s closest allies. Belize formalized its diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1989, and is one of the countries that openly support Taiwan?s representation in the United Nations.
This August, Belize was among 15 ROC allies who called on the UN to acknowledge Taiwan?s right to join the organization. Because of conflicts with Mainland China, which is one of the most powerful UN countries, Taiwan has had difficulty joining the United Nations.
While Belize and other countries are valuable diplomatic allies for Taiwan, they are also viewed as trade partners.
Just a year ago, Taiwan inked its first free trade agreement with a Central American country. The agreement was signed in Taipei, Taiwan, while Prime Minister Musa chaired the Central American Integration System (SICA). According to reports out of Taiwan, Chen has noted that the agreement between Taiwan and Panama has caused exports from Panama to Taiwan to expand five-fold. The reports also said that Chen had called on the region?s leaders ?for an early signing of free trade agreements with Taiwan to boost bilateral trade exchanges.?
He also lobbied for Taiwan?s accession to the Organization of American States, which is now headed by Secretary General Miguel Angel Rodriguez, former Costa Rican president. (We note that Taiwan is also an extra-regional observer state of SICA.)
Chen?s larger mission, it seems, is to expand Taiwan?s ?economic footprint? in the region.
To date, Taiwan has assisted Belize in areas such as agriculture, education and trade. Its assistance has come in kind and in cash, through both grants and loans. We were previously informed by the Taiwanese Embassy in Belize that Taiwan would co-finance the Belize City sporting facility.
Reports are that Chen has also pledged to support the expansion of the Panama Canal.
On President?s Chen way back to Taipei, he will reportedly have a nine-hour stopover in Seattle, Washington, where he is expected to meet with United States politicians and Taiwan expatriates.
He is scheduled to return home on Sunday, September 5.