Taipei, Aug. 8 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian on Tuesday received Enrique Garrido Arrosemena, president of the Legislative Assembly of Panama, and exchanged views with him on bilateral relations.
Chen extended a warm welcome to Garrido and his entourage and promised that his government will continue and honor all the commitments and cooperation projects that the ROC has entered into with the Central American country.
He said that in the past two months, high-ranking officials of the two countries have exchanged visits, and noted that Panamanian Second Vice President Dominador Kaiser Bazan came to Taiwan to attend the presidential inauguration on May 20, while President Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodriquez visited the ROC in early July, becoming the first foreign head of state to visit the ROC since the new government was inaugurated.
The visit of Garrido's delegation of legislators further indicates that bilateral relations are stable and cordial, Chen went on.
Chen described Panama as a true democratic country because its people elected a woman president last year, while the parliament also elected a president descended from aborigines.
After finding out that Garrido was to curtail his visit in order to rush back to Panama to take care of his 89-year-old tribal chief, Chen expressed hope that Garrido will convey his personal regards to the tribal elder.
Chen said that the ROC, with its population of 23 million, is ranked as the world's 13th-largest trading nation with the third-highest foreign exchange reserves and is a leader in the field of high-technology, but is still discriminated against and excluded from world organizations. He expressed gratitude for Panama's support for the ROC's bid for membership in international organizations.