President Lee Teng-hui this morning met with the Hon. Chief Fusitu'a, speaker of the parliament of the Kingdom of Tonga, and Mrs. Fusitu'a, and extended a warm welcome to them.
During the meeting, President Lee said that the ROC and the Kingdon of Tonga have enjoyed long-standing friendship and that King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV's visit last July and Speaker Fusitu'a's visit this time to the ROC would further consolidate the bilateral relations.
President Lee also pointed out that the ROC government, with its own development experience, is willing to help Tonga boost its economy, and that he hopes to provide his expertise in agricultural economy to assist Tonga in tackling agricultural problems. With systematic planning and effective implementation, Tonga, which is endowed with abundant fishery and agricultural resources, has great potentials in developing its food processing industry, added President Lee.
Accompanied by ROC Vice Foreign Minister C. J. Chen, Speaker and Mrs. Fusitu'a came to the Office of the President for the meeting. Dr. Ding Mou-shih, secretary-general of the National Security Council, and Dr. Su Chi, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the President, were also present.