Taipei, Jan. 14 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian and Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika signed a joint communique Friday reaffirming their commitment to further promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields.
Chen and Mutharika expressed their sympathy for all those who were affected by the devastating Dec. 26 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in a dozen Asian and African countries around the Indian Ocean.
The two presidents also said in their joint communique that all countries around the world should resolve their disputes through dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty, independence and equality. They also called on world leaders to work for democracy, rule of law, human rights and global peace.
In the joint communique, Mutharika reiterated his country's support for the Republic of China's bid to join the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other major international institutions, while Chen reaffirmed the ROC's commitment to sharing its successful economic development experience with Malawi and assisting the southeast African ally in its national development.
Under a Taiwan-Malawi cooperative agreement, the joint communique said, the ROC government will finance Malawi's parliamentary building construction project, offer funds for some locomotives for its new railway and help with its e-government development plan, community development and fishery development. The ROC government also promises to encourage Taiwan's private sector to invest in building fertilizer plants in Malawi.
Later in the day, Chen presided over a ceremony with full military honors to bid farewell to Mutharika at the end of his five-day state visit.