Taipei, July 11 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian received Wednesday senior presidential advisor Chiu Chwei-liang at the Presidential Office in recognition of his outstanding contribution to two-way ties between Taiwan and Australia.
Chiu, chairman of the Association of Taiwan Heart and a former professor of political science at the Australia-based Queensland University, was recently awarded a special medal by the federal Australian government for his remarkable contribution to that country.
Claiming that Chiu's academic and democratic achievements are a pride for all the people of Taiwan, Chen also hailed Chiu's for his long-term efforts in promoting bilateral substantial relations in the lack of formal contacts between the two countries.
For his part, Chiu said Taiwan's democratization and a cemented Taiwan-Australia relationship have long been two top issues along his life and attributed the honor cited by the Australia government to all his compatriots in Taiwan and Australia.
Chiu expressed his hope that President Chen will go on with Taiwan's democratization and reform, although the historical transition of power was already accomplished with Chen's coming to power in May 2000.
Chiu promised to further advance Taiwan-Australia ties and strife for Taiwan's persistent democracy. He now serves as a professor at the graduate school on Southeast studies under Tamkang University.
National Security Council Secretary-General Kang Ning-hsiang and Deputy Secretary-General to the President Joseph Wu also were present during the meeting.