MUTUAL BENEFITS:Tsai said that her administration would propose a new trade policy for the region in an effort to base bilateral diplomatic ties on stronger trade exchanges
Taipei Times
Date: Jan 15, 2017
By: Staff Writer, with CNA
Taiwan’s model of assisting its diplomatic allies is to shift from one-way assistance to a bilateral model, in
People wait for President Tsai Ing-wen’s arrival in Burlingame, California, on Friday. Photo: Reuters
order to help allies’ economic and social development, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said on Friday in El Salvador at a breakfast with Taiwanese reporters.
Taiwan should think about promoting diplomacy in new ways, including focusing on bilateral cooperation rather than simply providing aid to allies, she said.
Tsai said that during her visit to Central America, which took her to Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala and ended in El Salvador, she discovered that the countries are hoping to boost their economic development, following periods of political turmoil.
The countries are also making an effort to improve their infrastructure, education and public health, she said, adding that Honduras has sent many delegations to learn more about Taiwan’s National Health Insurance program and other social welfare systems. [FULL STORY]
