Taipei, July 20, (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian received Tuesday at the Presidential Office Edward S. Banas Sr., commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States, along with a group of VFW members.
During the meeting, the president expressed his appreciation for the VFW's support for the Republic of China. Chen thanked the powerful association of American war veterans for its friendly annual move of adopting a resolution to support the ROC.
Chen also expressed gratitude for the VFW's invitations to Taiwan officials from the Cabinet-level Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) to attend its annual congress every year.
The president said he feels honored that the association, with more than 2 million members, set up a branch organization in Taiwan in 1954 and set up brotherhood relations with Taiwan's veterans affairs authorities in 1980.
He also expressed hope that VAC Chairman Kao Hua-chu, who accompanied the visiting group during the call on the president, will make efforts to enhance the brotherhood between the two organizations while attending the VFW's annual congress next spring.