Taipei - Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou left Tuesday on a visit to Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador as he sought to shore up ties with three of the 23 countries that diplomatically recognize Taiwan.

The main purpose of his trip is to attend the June 1 inauguration of El Salvador president-elect Mauricio Funes, but he is to also visit Belize and Guatemala to strengthen relations.

Before his departure, Ma thanked Taipei's diplomatic allies for their support for Taiwan's return to the United Nations and its various organizations.

He assured them that Taiwan's improving ties with China would not affect Taiwan's friendship with - and aid to - Taipei's diplomatic allies.

"The purpose of our improving ties with China is to reduce tension, create peace and normalize economic ties," Ma said while receiving a group of Latin American military officers a few hours before his departure. "This effort will not affect our long-standing friendship with our diplomatic allies."

"Our cooperation projects with diplomatic allies will not decrease," he said. "If, after evaluation, we find it necessary to extend or expand the cooperation projects, we are happy to do so."

Ma and his delegation left Tuesday afternoon in a chartered plane, which carried a load of medical supplies to be donated to the three allies.

The Taiwan government did not announce the amount and content of the medical supplies, but it is believed they would help fight the new strain of the H1N1 flu virus, more commonly known as swine flu.

According to the World Health Organization, the H1N1 outbreak has caused 12,954 human infections and 93 deaths as of Tuesday.

Ma's delegation members include government officials, reporters, first lady Chow Mei-ching, five college students who major in Spanish and a band that is to perform in Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador.

In El Salvador, Ma is to hold talks with leaders of Taiwan's allies and meet with leaders from countries that do not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan who are also to attend Funes' inauguration. (dpa)