Palau, Jan. 27 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian met Thursday with his Palauan counterpart, Tommy Remengesau Jr., and promised that he will continue to promote cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.
Chen pointed out that it was their fifth meeting and the first one held in Palau, and that he is the first ROC president to visit Palau or any other country in the South Pacific.
This, he went on, shows his appreciation for the relationship between the two countries.
Chen expressed the hope that he will be able to visit Palau again in June to attend the inauguration of a Taiwan-financed tourist hotel.
During the meeting, Remengesau presented Chen with a Palauan axe as a token of the highest honor.
Remengesau also promised Chen that his country will continue to do its best to help Taiwan join international organizations.
Chen arrived in Palau from Taipei earlier that day on the first leg of a two-nation, five-day state visit to two ROC diplomatic allies in the South Pacific. He will also go to the Solomon Islands.
He will attend the inauguration of Remengesau for a second term Jan. 28 before heading to the Solomon Islands Jan. 29. He is scheduled to return to Taipei Jan. 31, with a five-hour stopover in Guam.