Taipei, May 27 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian called on all members of the United States' Congressional Taiwan Caucus Thursday to throw their full support behind the early signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and the United States.
Chen made the appeal while meeting at the Presidential Office with Steve Chabot, a co-chairman of the Taiwan Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Chen expressed hope that the FTA, which would help boost bilateral trade exchanges, will be signed as soon as possible.
Chen told his guest that his administration appreciates the long-term support the U.S. government and Congress have rendered to Taiwan in the international arena.
He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Chabot for introducing a resolution in favor of Taiwan's accession into the World Health Organization as an observer, which was approved 416-0 by the House of Representatives, and for the U.S. vote in favor of Taiwan's WHO bid at the annual meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA).
In spite of Taiwan's setback in its efforts to join the WHO this year, Chen said he is confident that with the support of the U.S. and diplomatic allies, Taiwan will be admitted into the organization in the near future.
During the meeting, Chen also told his guest that he received a congratulatory letter from U.S. President George W. Bush on his May 20 inauguration for a second four-year term through Jim Leach, chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs of the House Committee on International Relations, who led the U.S. delegation that attended Chen's inauguration.
Chen noted that the participation of the U.S. delegation at his inauguration made the event even more splendid.