President Chen received former Korean Prime Minister Lee Han-dong this morning and expressed his heartfelt thanks for the visitor's participation at the inauguration of the Democratic Pacific Union, the brainchild of Vice President Lu.
President Chen said that former Prime Minister Lee Han-dong is an outstanding Korean politician, citing his 20 years as a member of parliament and his 2000 and 2002 nominations for prime minister. Expressing his gratitude, the president said that former Prime Minister Lee has always been supportive and friendly to Taiwan.
During his1999 visit to Seoul, the president revealed that he had an exclusive opportunity to have breakfast with Lee, even though he was not the Democratic Progressive Party's presidential nominee at that time. At their 1999 meeting, the president listened to Lee's analysis on the political situation in Korea and the international community, as well as other Asia-Pacific regional issues. President Chen said that his breakfast with Lee was God's will because a year afterwards, he was elected president of the Republic of China the same time Lee Han-dong was nominated to be the Korean prime minister.
With this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit being organized in Busan, Korea, President Chen wanted to express his sincere appreciation for the Korean government's assistance in 1991 when it helped Taiwan, along with Hong Kong and China, become members of APEC through its political resourcefulness and diplomatic wisdom. Aside from praising the achievements of Korea, the Taiwanese president also spoke of his hope to meet president Roo Moo-hyun and other leaders of APEC countries by attending APEC's unofficial leaders meeting.
The president further commented on the recent thawing of Taiwan-Korea relations referring to the visa-free privilege that both countries have granted each other, the return of direct passenger flights and the establishment of a Taiwanese representative office in Busan. In addition, bilateral trade between Taiwan and Korea peaked last year at US$16.9 billion, where Korea enjoyed a surplus of US$6.3 billion, making the country Taiwan's second largest trading partner. 450,000 people also traveled between the two countries, two-thirds of which were Taiwanese. Therefore, according to President Chen, based on their increasing trade and business cooperation, he anticipates signing a free trade agreement with Korea and is hopeful he will be allowed to attend the APEC unofficial leader's summit.
Former Prime Minister Lee Han-dong thanked President Chen for the opportunity to meet with him. He added that, by witnessing the prosperity and development of Taipei city when President Chen was mayor, he knew that Chen would become a future leader. Lee Han-dong said he felt honored to be invited to the inauguration of the Democratic Pacific Union and expressed his optimism that the core values of "democracy, peace and prosperity" would prevail in Asia. The former Korean Prime Minister also reassured the president that he would do his best to strive to improve Taiwan-Korea relations.
Praising Korea for having achieved the ideals of "democracy, peace and prosperity" the president eluded to the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games as a symbol of Korea's political and social accomplishments. President Chen added that Korea has proven to the world that authoritarian regimes can embrace democracy and he is hopeful that the 2008 Olympic Games in China will bring similar changes to the government in Beijing. The president closed by suggesting the Chinese change their Olympic slogan to "A World of Peace, A Dream of Freedom" instead of "One World, One Dream."