Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

Taipei, Aug. 14 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian on Saturday extended his appreciation to the 2006 Asian annual meeting of Kiwanis International for its longstanding devotion to charity and to the country's agricultural development.

President Chen promised to attend the 2006 Asian annual meeting of Kiwanis International to be held in Kaohsiung to show his support for the organization.

Chen made the remarks when addressing the 30th annual meeting of the Taiwan chapter held in Taichung County. Prizes were also presented at the event to 10 outstanding agricultural experts selected by the organization through an annual competition.

The president said the competition is very meaningful because agriculture has been one of the "life lines" of Taiwan's economy, helping the island get through years of poverty in the past.

Chen also said the organization's efforts in charity has helped promote people-to-people diplomacy between Taiwan and other countries and raised Taiwan's international profile.