Taipei, Oct. 22 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian received visiting New Zealand parliamentarian Peter Dunne and other members of a delegation from the South Pacific country Wednesday at the Presidential Office, giving them a warm welcome.
Chen thanked Dunne and his other guests for their long-lasting support for Taiwan, particularly, Dunne, who introduced a resolution at the parliament in his capacity as chairman of the Committee of Foreign Relations, Defense and Trade to congratulate him for assuming to the 10th term of the Republic of China president on May 20, 2000.
Chen said that he was quite impressed and appreciated the resolution which he said represented Dunne's staunch support for Taiwan as well as his courage in holding up the value of democracy as New Zealand does not have official ties with Taiwan.
Chen also thanked Mark Blumsky, another member of the delegation and a former mayor of Wellington, for the hospitality Blumsky extended to him when he visited the New Zealand capital city in his capacity as Taipei mayor.