Taipei, Oct. 2 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday that it will not be in Taiwan's interest if mainland China's economy is developed to pay for military expansion.
Chen made the remarks in a meeting with Poul Nodgaard, deputy speaker of Denmark's parliament, who is making his second visit to Taiwan since 2000 at the head of a pro-Taiwan group of Danish parliamentarians.
In addition to expressing gratitude to the parliamentarians for what they have done for Taiwan, Chen said he also hopes that the Danish Parliament can pass a resolution demanding that Beijing dismantle the more than 500 missiles along its southeastern coast targeting Taiwan.
Nodgaard and Chen also talked about issues of mutual concern, including human rights, the impact of mainland China's economic development on Taiwan, the prevention of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO).
Chen said the impact of SARS on Taiwan would have been less if the island had been a WHO member and he urged the Danish Parliament to show its support for Taiwan's WHO bid as did the European Parliament.
Meanwhile, Chen added that he feels it ironic that due to pressure from Beijing, Denmark, a democratic country, did not allow him to receive the 2001 Prize for Freedom of the Liberal International at a ceremony held in Copenhagen.
Instead, Chen's wife had to travel to Strasbourg, France, to receive the award on Chen's behalf.
Despite the unpleasant past, Chen said, Taiwan and Denmark have maintained close economic and trade relations, with bilateral trade reaching US$457 million last year, leaving a trade surplus of US$83 million in Taiwan's favor.
Chen hailed Denmark's achievements in high technology, design and biotechnology and expressed the hope that the two countries can have more exchanges in these areas in the future.