200 foreign guests to attend presidential inauguration

Taipei, May 17 (CNA) About 230 foreign guests, including heads of state and politicians, will attend President Ma Ying-jeou's inauguration ceremony May 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

Taiwan will host 41 delegations, 19 of which will be led by state leaders, governors, foreign ministers and other high-ranking officials from Taiwan's 23 diplomatic allies, according to a statement released by the ministry.

Presidents arriving later this week include Kiribati President Anote Tong, Marshall Islands President Christopher Loeak, Nauru President Sprent Dabwido, Palau President Johnson Toribiong and Paraguay President Fernando Lugo Mendez, it said.

Belize Governor-General Colville Young will also be attending, along with the prime ministers of St. Vincent, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Burkina Faso, Sao Tome and Principe and Swaziland.

Representatives from Taiwan's non-diplomatic allies, such as the United States, Canada, Singapore, the European Parliament, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia, will also attend, it noted.

A welcome banquet will be held May 19, one day before the inauguration ceremony at the Presidential Office. A national banquet will be hosted on inauguration day.

The celebration activities will be conducted in a "simple but grand" manner this year, said Steve Hsia, the ministry's deputy spokesman, in a routine press conference.

In 2008, more than 500 guests from around the world were invited to attend Ma's inauguration to his first term.

His administration has recently come under heavy fire for its recent policies that include increased electricity and fuel prices, as well as a proposed capital gains tax on stock market profits.

(By Nancy Liu)
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