Versión Español
EspañolClosing out his tour of El Salvador and Panama, the president of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, voiced his support on Thursday for the integration of Central American countries and pledged to cooperate in this process. President Ying-jeou attended the inauguration of President Juan Carlos Varela in Panama on Tuesday.
“We are confident that integration is the path to progress,” said the head of the Taiwanese state as he paid a visit to the Central American Integration System (SICA) in El Salvador.
President Ying-jeou stressed that SICA will be crucial to the strengthening of trade and cooperation in Central American.
On Wednesday, President Ying-jeou and Salvadorean President Sánchez Cerén signed an agreement vowing to continue their relationship, without mentioning the case of former Salvadorean President Francisco Flores (1999-2004), charged with mismanaging US$15 million donated by Taiwan’s embassy.
During his stay, the Taiwanese head of state thanked El Salvador for the support given to become a member of the United Nations. Costa Rica is the only member of SICA that still maintains strong diplomatic and commercial ties with mainland China. It even holds a free-trade area agreement with the Asian country.
President Ying-jeou and President Sánchez Cerén held a private meeting where they discussed a series of topics regarding bilateral agreements. After the meeting, the heads of state proceeded to sign the Taiwan-El Salvador agreement and announced their interest in creating a committee to lead a free-trade area between the two countries.
Sánchez Cerén also revealed he will open a Commercial Economic Council at the embassy of El Salvador in Taiwan.
Sources: El Diario de Hoy, Estrategia y Negocios.
