Taipei, Oct. 29 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday he is grateful for the European Parliament's support for Taiwan's cause and its concern about security in the Taiwan Strait.
Chen made the remarks while meeting with a delegation from the European Parliament -- the legislative branch of the European Union. The delegation, led by Gerard Collins, vice chairman of the Taiwan Friendship Group in the European Parliament, arrived in Taipei Monday on a goodwill visit.
Thanks to this group's efforts, Chen said, Taiwan-E.U. relations have made substantial progress since the group's formation in 1991.
In 2002, Chen noted, Taiwan-E.U. trade amounted to US$28.9 billion, making the E.U. Taiwan's third-largest trading partner and Taiwan the E.U.'s 11th-largest trading partner.
Through the Taiwan Friendship Group's endeavors, Chen went on, the European Parliament has passed numerous resolutions expressing support for Taiwan's cause and concern about cross-strait stability.
Just a week ago, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to resume peaceful dialogue and resolve their disputes by peaceful means. The resolution also urged mainland China to dismantle missiles deployed along the southeastern mainland coast targeting Taiwan. Meanwhile, 12 of the 15 E.U. member states have set up representative offices in Taiwan and the E.U. headquarters also opened a representative office in Taipei earlier this year. "These developments serve to illustrate the cordiality between our two sides," Chen told his guests.
He also expressed his gratitude for the European Parliament's passage of a resolution supporting Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health Assembly -- the World Health Organization's governing body -- as well as the hospitality extended to ROC first lady Wu Shu-chen during her visit to the European Parliament in 2001 to receive the Freedom Prize on his behalf. The prize was granted by Liberal International in recognition of Chen's contributions to Taiwan's democratization.
Chen also took advantage of the occasion to brief his guests on his administration's plan to hold a referendum on several major public issues and to write a new constitution for Taiwan.
While the European Union is discussing the enactment of a new constitution to cope with the situation following the admission of 10 more countries into the bloc next year, Chen said, Taiwan is also mulling the formulation of a new constitution that will fit Taiwan's present reality and contribute to the deepening and consolidation of its young democracy.
For his part, Collins said the Taiwan Friendship Group will continue its efforts to boost Taiwan-E.U. relations and support Taiwan's cause, including its bid to join major international organizations.