Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Raymond Burghardt said Tuesday at a welcome dinner for President Ma Ying-jeou that the bright sunshine in Seattle that day symbolized the good relations between Taiwan and the United States. The top U.S. liaison officer with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties made the remarks at a dinner with Taiwanese expatriates to welcome President Ma, who arrived in Seattle earlier in the day for an overnight transit stop en route home after a three-country Central American diplomatic tour. Burghardt said in his opening remarks that Seattle has a reputation for frequent rain and that it was rainy during his two previous visits to the city. However, on his third visit Tuesday, it was sunny in Seattle, which was a reflection of Taiwan-U.S. relations, he added. Traveling at the head of a large delegation, Ma arrived in Seattle Tuesday evening from El Salvador where he attended the inaugural of new Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes. Hundreds of Taiwanese expatriates turned out to greet Ma at the hotel where he was staying. Shortly after his arrival, Ma met separately with Burghardt and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickel for wide-ranging talks. He also had telephone conversations with Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire and several U.S. congressmen, including Lincoln Diaz-Balart, co-chair of the U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus. Ma was quoted as having assured the American politicians that progress in relations across the Taiwan Strait will have a positive impact on Taiwan-U.S. ties. He also expressed hopes that U.S. congressional members will support his proposal that the U.S. grant visa-free treatment for Taiwan tourists. Ma, who also visited Belize and Guatemala during his just-concluded Central America tour, is scheduled to return to Taiwan Thursday evening. 