Central Americans tell Taiwan they seek trade relations with China

ZAMBRANO, Honduras (AFP) - Central American leaders yesterday told visiting Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian they seek closer trade relations with China, but hinted they would also support Taiwan's bid to rejoin the United Nations.

At the start of a one-day Central American summit, Honduran deputy Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina said the region was "open to trade relations with all the world's countries, including mainland China."

He said that in a globalized world economy, you have to "keep your options open."

Chen, who is on a week-long Central America tour to shore up diplomatic support for Taiwan, said Wednesday in an interview with AFP that he did not oppose trade relations by any country with China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war, and their leaders have since vied for international recognition as the legitimate government. Only 24 countries have recognized Taiwan.

Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Belice have sent their presidents to the summit. Nicaragua and Panama sent their vice presidents, while Costa Rica, which broke relations with Taiwan in June, was absent.

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, in his speech at the summit, hinted that his Central American colleagues were planning a joint statement at the close of the meeting that would express support for Taiwan's efforts to rejoin the United Nations, which China strongly opposes.

Taiwan, under its official name the Republic of China, lost its UN seat to China in 1971, and its efforts to rejoin have been blocked by Beijing.

Reina said the summit was studying with Chen development programs for the Central American region involving roads, bridges, airports and other major projects in the renewable energy sector.

Chen yesterday agreed to a five-million-dollar loan for the establishment of a computer center and purchase of 40,000 computers for schools in Honduras, Taiwans's foreign ministry spokesman David Wang said.

He added that the state-run Taiwan Power Company would help Honduras build a 300-million-dollar hydraulic power plant at an overall cost of 300 million US dollars.