MANAGUA : Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou arrived in Nicaragua Friday for a two-day official visit, aiming to boost ties with one of the poorest nations in Central America.

"We want to express our desire here to pursue bilateral cooperation" with Managua, Ma said at a welcoming ceremony where he was greeted by Vice President Jaime Morales and Foreign Minister Samuel Santos.

"Nicaragua and Taiwan are real friends," Ma said in Spanish, accompanied by a delegation of over 100 officials, parliamentarians, artists and academics.

"These links are full, complete and comprehensive."

A free trade agreement between Managua and Taipei that became effective in January 2008 has helped increase bilateral trade and "we now want this relationship to grow further," the Taiwanese leader said.

Trade between both countries last year reached 53.4 billion dollars, according to figures from the Taiwanese embassy in Managua.

Vice President Morales said Taiwan's "generous cooperation" had helped reduce poverty levels in Nicaragua and tackle the country's energy shortages.

Ma was scheduled to visit the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, but cancelled his trip after Sunday's coup that overthrew President Manuel Zelaya.

The Taiwanese leader, Morales said, "brings a message of encouragement to Central America," shaken by the political crisis in Honduras, which "will hopefully be resolved soon."

Following the welcoming ceremony, Ma met with President Daniel Ortega. He was scheduled to leave Managua Saturday to return to Taipei.

Taiwan, which Beijing considers a rebel province, maintains close ties with Central America, safe Costa Rica.

San Jose gave up six decades of ties with Taipei in favour of China two years ago, and is the third Latin American country to negotiate a free trade deal with China after Chile and Peru. Negotiators have said they aim to complete the deal this year.

The visit was Ma's second this month to Central America, where two new presidents -- Panama's Ricardo Martinelli and Salvador's Mauricio Funes -- have said they are seeking rapprochement to China.

Ma arrived in Managua from Panama, where he attended Martinelli's inauguration ceremony on Wednesday.

- AFP /ls