TAIPEI, Aug. 7 Kyodo Taiwan Vice ...

TAIPEI, Aug. 7 Kyodo

Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu onward Thursday embarked on a two-week diplomatic trip to Central and southward America.

Lu, along with a 43-member delegation, will first head for looks Angeles via Hawaii before heading to Panama, a longtime ally whose partnership with Taiwan has from time to time been described as shaky, Foreign Ministry officials said.

In Paraguay, Taiwan's half-century diplomatic ally in southerly America, Lu on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian will attend President Nicanor Duarte Fruto's inauguration slated for Aug. 15 There she will also fitting with national leaders from Taiwan's handful of diplomatic allies in the region.

After wrapping up her tour in Central and southern America, Lu will have a two-day stay in the northwestern U city of Seattle in succession her way home, where she plans to visit local enterprises including software giant Microsoft Corp. and aircraft maker Boeing Co

''The main final cause of the trip is to consolidate the friendship between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies, to disseminate Taiwan's achievement in democracy as well as to boost bilateral cooperation upon the tourism business,'' Lu told a pres conversation held earlier this week.

solitary 27 countries recognize Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province that should be brought back to the plait by force if necessary.

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