President Lee Teng-hui and visiting Liberian President Charles Ghankay Taylor signed a joint communique this morning. In the communique, the two heads of state expressed their satisfaction with the cordial ties and mutual friendship and cooperation that exist between their countries, and pledged to continue the collaboration for the common benefit of both countries and peoples.
The signing ceremony was held at the Office of the President, with ROC Vice President Lien Chan, ROC ranking officials and the Liberian delegation members witnessing.
Before the ceremony, President Taylor met with President Lee again for a talk, and led his delegation to bid farewell to President Lee while expressing his appreciation for the warm welcome and sincere reception extended by the government and people of the ROC durning their stay here.
President and Madame Taylor and their delegation left Taiwan tonight, wrapping up their one-week state visit.
The full text of the joint communique is as follows:
At the invitation of His Excellency Lee Teng-hui, President of the Republic of China, His Excellency Dahkpanah Charles Ghankay Taylor, President of the Republic of Liberia, visited the Republic of China from the fifth to the eleventh of November 1997.
His Excellency President Charles Ghankay Taylor was accompanied by a high-ranking delegation that included the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other members of the Liberian cabinet.
In the spirit of mutual understanding, friendship, and cordiality, the two heads of state held discussions on various issues relating to mutual interests and international affairs. They agreed that all nations should use dialogue, negotiations and other peaceful means to resolve international disputes, on the basis of the principles of sovereignty and universal equality of nations.
His Excellency President Charles Ghankay Taylor underscored the significant contributions that the Republic of China could make to world peace and prosperity as well as to the economic betterment of developing countries if it could play a more active role in international organizations and activities. He reiterated his firm support for the Republic of China's bid to participate in the United Nations and other world organizations. On the same note, President Lee Teng-hui expressed his sincere appreciation for the staunch support of the Republic of Liberia extended to the Republic of China in the international community.
His Excellency President Charles Ghankay Taylor expressed his deep admiration for the Republic of China's immense achievements and progress, particularly in the field of democratization. He also took the opportunity to express sincere appreciation to the Republic of China for the assistance rendered to the Republic of Liberia in its recent general election. President Lee Teng-hui congratulated President Charles Ghankay Taylor for his recent victory in the Liberian elections, and also congratulated the People of Liberia for successfully holding free, fair and democratic election in their country.
On the situation in the West African sub-region, the two Presidents commended ECOWAS for its exceptional performance and invaluable role in bringing about a final resolution of the Liberian crisis. The two Presidents also reviewed the global political and economic situation and expressed grave concern over the proliferation of conflicts within states which continue to threaten the very fabric of those states and seriously endanger world peace and security. The two leaders therefore called for the unbridled respect by governments everywhere of the human rights of their peoples as well as adherence to the rules of international law as the only viable means of ameliorating unfortunate situations and putting an end to conflicts.
President Lee Teng-hui and President Charles Ghankay Taylor expressed their satisfaction with the cordial ties and mutual friendship and cooperation that exist between their two countries. They pledged to continue their close collaboration for the mutual benefit of their two countries and peoples. The two leaders agreed to set up a Joint Commission to review the priority of Liberia's post-war reconstruction programmes; and President Lee Teng-hui promised that his country would be a most trustworthy partner of Liberia in her pursuit of national development.
Before leaving Taipei, His Excellency Charles Ghankay Taylor expressed his sincere gratitude to His Excellency President Lee Teng-hui and the Government of the Republic of China for the very warm and fraternal welcome accorded to him and his entire delegation throughout the visit. President Charles Ghankay Taylor extended an invitation to President Lee Teng-hui to visit Liberia in July next year to attend the observance of Liberia's Sesquicentennial Independence Anniversary.
Done in Taipei, on the tenth day of the eleventh month of the year nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, corresponding to the tenth day of the eleventh month of the eighty-sixth year of the Republic of China.