President Ma Ying-jeou said Thursday relations between Taiwan and El Salvador have entered a new stage since a bilateral free trade agreement took effect in March 2008. 'And I hope the Taiwan-Salvadoran relationship will move even closer in the years ahead, ' Ma said while meeting the new Salvadoran ambassador to Taiwan, Marta Chang de Tsien, and her husband. Since the two countries forged diplomatic ties decades ago, Ma said they have carried out cooperative programs in nearly every aspect, ranging from education and cultural affairs to technological, agricultural, medical and economic fields. Ma said he hopes bilateral ties will grow even stronger in the future, adding the Salvadoran president is welcome to visit Taiwan. Ma also said Chang is very suitable to serve as Salvadoran ambassador to Taiwan because she is a second-generation Chinese immigrant to El Salvador and has received university education in the United States. Blessed with knowledge of Salvadoran, Chinese and U.S. cultures, Chang will be able to smoothly fulfill her mission and maintain a healthy interaction with Taiwan's government and people, Ma said. 