The government has yet to decide who will represent President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) at the informal APEC leaders’ summit in Peru in the middle of November, a foreign ministry official said on Monday.
The official made the remarks after Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lonorary chairman Lien Chan (連戰) had reportedly been designated special envoy for the summit.
Taiwanese presidents are barred from taking part in the meeting because of obstruction from Beijing and must name a proxy to attend on their behalf.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the decision on the envoy need not be rushed, as Peru has yet to send an envoy to Taiwan to deliver the invitation.
Based on past practice, the envoy from the host country would visit Taiwan twice, the official said, adding that during the first visit the envoy would inform Taipei of the theme of the meetings and their schedule.
During the second visit, the envoy would be apprised by Taipei of the identity of Taiwan’s envoy, the official said.
The Peruvian envoy is expected to visit late this month or early next month, the official said.
At present, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still in talks with the Presidential Office over the matter, the official said.
Among others, Taiwan has sent Nobel laureate Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) and corporate heads to participate at the summits.
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