Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) Belize Prime Minister Said W. Musa said Wednesday that his country supports the decision of the people of Taiwan on their own fate as well as the Republic of China's attempts to enter international organizations.
Musa made the remarks at a meeting with President Chen Shui-bian on the eve of a summit of heads of state of the ROC and Central American countries to be held Thursday in Taipei.
Musa, who has visited Taiwan several times, said he can see the progress on the island every time he visits.
Expressing gratitude for the ROC's contributions to economic cooperation projects and its agricultural technology assistance to his country, Musa said he looks forward to President Chen's visit to Belize.
Chen thanked the government of Belize for its long-term support for the ROC's bids to join international organizations.
The president added that his original plan to visit several Central American countries in June was interrupted due to outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on the island earlier this year, and he hopes that he can visit Belize some time after October.
Noting that Taiwan, an island country, has been through many earthquakes and typhoons, including a devastating 7.6-magnitude temblor in 1999, Chen said it is now working hard to recover from the aftereffects of SARS.
The disease affected Taiwan seriously by making numerous commercial activities stop and by shrinking consumption, with the island registering a negative economic growth of 0.08 percent in the second quarter, Chen noted.
However, the president added, with SARS contained, the country recovered very rapidly. "We have faith that economic growth will reach 3.9 percent and 4.6 percent in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, and the growth for the whole year will be maintained at more than 3 percent," Chen said.
Musa hailed Chen's leadership and the ROC government's efficient measures in controlling the disease, saying that he hopes the summit among ROC and Central American leaders can find remedies and ideas on topics of mutual interest.