Taipei, Aug. 2 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Monday he looks forward to heading an official Taiwan delegation to attend the inauguration of Panamanian President-elect Martin Torrijos on Sept. 1.
Chen made the remarks while meeting with a group of Panamanian journalists and academics who arrived in Taipei Saturday for a goodwill visit.
It marked the first time that President Chen has publicly disclosed his plan to attend the new Panamanian president's inauguration.
Chen told his guests that he has fond memories of his meeting with Torrijos during his trip to Panama last November to attend the country's centennial celebrations. "I'm confident that Torrijos will inject new vigor and vision in your country's administration so that Panama's politics will become even more transparent and its economy more prosperous, " Chen said.
Noting that Panama has been one of the country's best friends, Chen said engagements between Chinese and Panamanian peoples date back to from before the founding of the Republic of China. "We have shared a longstanding cordial relationship for nearly a century. I hope our exchanges and cooperation will further grow in the years ahead," Chen said.
He also expressed his gratification with the significant growth in bilateral trade since the ROC-Panama free trade agreement took effect at the beginning of this year.
Taiwan-Panama trade totaled US$133 million in 2003, while the amount had already reached US$143 million in the first six months of this year, marking a 163 percent year-on-year rise. Taiwan's exports to Panama jumped 147 percent from the year-earlier level, while Panama's shipments to Taiwan registered a whopping 563 percent surge.
Chen assured his Panamanian guests that his administration will continue to promote commercial exchanges and cooperation with Panama in various fields on the basis of the bilateral free trade pact.