Taiwan will continue pursuing U.N. cause: President Ma

San Salvador, El Salvador -- President Ma Ying-jeou said in El Salvador Sunday that Taiwan will maintain its efforts to take part in U.N.-affiliated activities, backed by a strong public mandate and its participation in the recently concluded World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva.

Ma made the remarks while speaking with international media reporters at the Radisson Plaza Hotel where he was staying on the eve of the June 1 inauguration of El Salvador President-elect Mauricio Funes.

Ma said that Taiwan's success in participating in the WHA as an observer in mid-May was an indication that his administration's pragmatic policies have won support at home and abroad, and that this approach should be maintained.

The president attributed the positive development to improved Taiwan-China relations over the past year since he has been at the helm of the government.

"The incumbent administration's pragmatic and flexible diplomacy has led to improved ties between Taiwan and China and to the signing of nine accords in three rounds of bilateral talks, " he noted.

"Warming cross-Taiwan Strait ties has made it possible for El Salvador not to have to take sides between Taiwan and China."

"El Salvador can continue maintaining formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan while developing closer trade and economic links with China," Ma said.

"As a diplomatic partner of El Salvador, Taiwan will continue its cooperation on a wide front and will provide necessary assistance, " Ma said, in response to recent remarks by Funes that El Salvador will seek better links with China when he takes office.

Earlier the same day, Ma was also interviewed by the international news media, including El Salvador's TCS and Prensa Grafica, EFE of Spain and Reuters.

Ma is leading a large delegation on the third leg of a three-country diplomatic tour of Central America that took him to Belize and Guatemala.

The president is slated to depart El Salvador June 2 and return to Taiwan June 4 via Seattle after an overnight stopover.

source: http://chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-affairs/2009/06/01/210465/Taiwan-will.htm