President Lee Teng-hui and Vice President Lien Chan this morning met respectively with visiting Governor Lawton Chiles of the State of Florida, U. S. A., and extended a warm welcome to him.
President Lee told the governor that the Republic of China with her economic strength could develop even closer trade and agricultural exchanges with Florida. Besides, both sides are complimentary in terms of their trade items and hence furtherance of bilateral ties would assuredly be mutually beneficial, he added.
The President, who just came back from a trip to Central and South America to enhance the ROC's relations with that region, also pointed out that, as Florida plays a transshipping role in trade between Central and South America and other regions, Florida would serves as a bridge between the ROC and Central and South American countries.
Later on, in receiving Governor Chiles, Vice President Lien said that the governor's visit to Taiwan will further cement bilateral relationship and that, given the fact that there are now over 5 million trips abroad by the local people, Florida should do more to attract tourists from Taiwan.
In August1992, as Vice President Lien served as governor of Taiwan province, flew to Florida to meet Governor Chiles and both of them signed an agreement which made Taiwan and Florida sister states. They recalled that event this morning with fond memories.
Governor Chiles, who is on his first visit to Taiwan, told the President and Vice President that Florida would very much like to enhance its relations with the ROC on various fields and that he was deeply impressed by the prosperity and progress of this country.
The U.S. governor was accompanied by ROC Vice Foreign Minister Chen Chien-jen to the Office of the President for the meetings. Mr. Stephen S.F. Chen, deputy secretary-general to the President, was also present.