Taipei, July 18 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian expressed hope Friday that Taiwan and the Philippines can increase their cooperation and exchanges of high-profile visits.
Receiving Philippine House of Representatives Vice Speaker Raul Gonzalez at the Presidential Office, Chen pointed out to his guest that Taiwan is the fifth-largest trade partner of the Philippines, with an annual trade volume of US$5.6 billion recorded last year and a surplus of US$1.6 billion in favor of Manila.
In addition, he went on, Taiwan is the fifth-largest investor in the Philippines, with more than US$1 billion invested there last year alone. It is also its fifth-largest source of tourist arrivals, with more than 100,000 recorded last year.
Furthermore, more than 67,000 Philippine laborers are now working in Taiwan, earning approximately US$400 million a year for the Southeast Asian nation, Chen went on.
The figures demonstrate that Taiwan and the Philippines maintain close relations, Chen stressed, adding that the two countries should further increase cooperation in bilateral and Asian-Pacific regional and international affairs, and should increase exchanges of high-profile visits.
For his part, Gonzalez shared Chen's views and convoyed Philippine President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo's regards and gratitude for assistance extended by the government to Philippine workers in Taiwan.
Gonzalez said that the Philippine Congress has adopted a resolution to support Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization, which he said has no reason to shut out Taiwan.
Taiwan is one of the world's important economies and the international community should allow Taiwan to make its voice heard, Gonzales said.