Taipei, June 23 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian on Friday met with World Vision President Dean Hirsch and lauded the organization's contributions to needy people around the world.
Chen also noted that his recent remarks on the development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations were a display of Taiwan's good will and sincerity toward mainland China.
Similar to World Vision's aim of promoting world peace, he said that his government's top priority is to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait and in the Asia-Pacific region.
The president expressed his appreciation for World Vision's assistance to the people of Taiwan, especially the victims of last September's devastating earthquake.
Hirsch told Chen that Taiwan is a very important member of World Vision because many countries have received assistance from the people of Taiwan, such as Ethiopia, Honduras, Mongolia, Romania and Algeria.
He pointed out that the generous contributions by the people of Taiwan have been acknowledged by the international community.
Hirsch was visiting Taipei at the invitation of World Vision-Taiwan to attend an international exhibition of paintings by young aid recipients and to present awards to the children.
He called on Chen at the Presidential Office, accompanied by World Vision-Taiwan President Chao Ching-ming.