President Lee Teng-hui this morning received visiting U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. In addition to extending a warm welcome to his guest, the President expressed his appreciation for Mr. Rohrabachers longstanding support for the Republic of China.
During the meeting, Mr. Rohrabacher conveyed to President Lee the warm friendship and support of his colleagues in the House of Representatives for the ROC. The U.S. congressman also praised the ROCs performance amid the Asian financial storm this past year.
In response, President Lee noted that the ROC is very concerned about the financial crisis sweeping Asia. We hope that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can jointly bring Southeast Asian nations together for a meeting to find ways to their stabilize financial situations and to promote economic growth in this region, he said.
President Lee also pointed out that, in addition to calling high-level meetings, the ROC government has sent officials on fact-finding missions to other Asian countries, in an effort to formulate effective counter-measures. Currently, concrete measures are being taken one by one. These actions show that the ROC attaches great importance to her role and responsibility as a member of the Asia-Pacific community, he said.
Mr. Rohrabacher gave his personal endorsement to the ROCs efforts at coping with the financial crisis in Asia. He urged the ROC to play a more active role in helping other Asian countries tide over their difficulties.
Mr. Rohrabacher is on a four-day visit to Taipei to see how the ROC deals with the Asian financial crisis as well as to promote bilateral cultural, economic and trade relations. He was accompanied by ROC Vice Foreign Minister Tzu-dan Wu to the Office of the President for the meeting. Also present were Dr. Ding Mou-shih, secretary-general of the ROC National Security Council, Dr. Chi Su, deputy secretary-general to the President, and Mr. Darryl Johnson, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei Office.