Taipei, Dec. 14 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian vowed Thursday to boost ties with Central America and press for the region's peace, freedom and development.
Receiving Central American delegations to a foreign ministerial-level conference between the Republic of China and several Central American countries that took place Wednesday, Chen said the conference has further cemented the island's ties with Central America.
As a member of the international community, he went on, Taiwan shares the values prevailing in all democratic and free states and is more than willing to pull its weight in the struggle for world peace.
Although the island is shut out of most international organizations, its commitment to fulfilling its international liability is undiminished, Chen said.
He expressed thanks to Central American states for admitting the island as an observer of the System of Central American Integration and pledged to cooperate with them to improve peace, freedom and democracy in the region.
The delegations from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica were accompanied by ROC Foreign Minster Tien Hung-mao at the reception.