Honiara, the Solomon Islands, Jan. 31 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian and his entourage are expected to arrive in the U.S. territory of Guam Monday for a transit stop en route back to Taiwan after concluding a diplomatic tour to Palau and the Solomon Islands.
President Chen and his entourage will depart the Solomon Islands shortly before noon Monday. They are scheduled to arrive in Guam at around 3 p.m. local time for a five-hour stopover.
David Brown, a board director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) ; Guam Governor Carl Gutierrez; and a U.S. congressman are expected to meet President Chen at the Guam airport. The AIT is a quasi-official organization authorized to handle U.S. exchanges with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.
During his stay in Guam, President Chen is once again expected to echo U.S. President George W. Bush's call for expanding freedom and democracy outlined in his second-term inaugural speech. He will also reaffirm his commitment to promoting reconciliation among Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties.
Chen is scheduled to lay a wreath at the Asan Beach war memorial and meet with Taiwanese expatriates in Guam for a luncheon.
According to Chen's aides accompanying him on his tour, Taiwan experienced no difficulties in arranging for the president's transit stop in Guam, with U.S. officials agreeing to the request.
In the Solomon Islands Monday, President Chen addressed the South Pacific nation's parliament before concluding his state visit.
He praised the people, lawmakers and government of the Solomon Islands for their concerted efforts in resolving differences among themselves and reaching reconciliation after the country was divided over ethnic problems.