Taipei, Sept. 30 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian lauded Mongolia's choice of independence through referendum Thursday, saying that Taiwan should learn from Mongolia to "walk its own way."
Receiving a group of Mongolians who came here for public administration training, the president said he admired the courage of the Mongolians, who have chosen independence through referendum despite being surrounded by powerful countries.
The president said Taiwan was encouraged by the success of Mongolia and will follow its example.
The president claimed credit for the better than ever relations between Taiwan and Mongolia, saying that it was he who began to reach out to Mongolia in 1997 when he served as mayor of Taipei.
Chen said he forged sisterhood ties between Taipei and Ulan Bator in 1997 and visited the Mongolian capital in 1999.
Bilateral ties continued to grow when Chen was elected president in 2000 and were consummated in 2002 with Taiwan's opening of a representative office in Ulan Bator and Mongolia's opening of a representative office in Taiwan in 2003, Chen said.
He urged the Mongolians being trained in Taipei to help improve bilateral ties after they return to Mongolia.