On behalf of the government of the Republic of China, President Chen Shui-bian bestowed the Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon upon Chairman of the Taiwan-friendly group of Parliamentary Gian Paolo Landi di Chiavenna in recognition of his many years of devotion to enhancing the Taiwan-Italy bilateral friendship at the national level and in his remarkable contribution to strengthening other friendly cooperative relationships between the two nations.
President Chen said that the medal for Chairman Landi is in recognition of his contributions since becoming the leader of the Taiwan-friendly group in June 2001 and he expressed his deepest admiration and thanks.
The President said he offered his highest recognition on behalf of the government and the people of Taiwan for Landi's support of Taiwan's wish to become a member of the World Health Organization and the United Nations and his opposition to Chinese deployment of weapons as a threat to Taiwan and China's passage of the Anti-separation Law, and opposition to lifting the ban on sale of weapons to China by the European Union.
The President said that the Taiwan-Friendly group in the Italian Parliamentary has reaped rewards in trade, but he said that we are not resting on our laurels and are exploring even greater possibilities. He said that Italy was Taiwan's 5th largest European trading partner and that the two nations are currently discussing the agreements of avoiding double taxation and tax evasion between the two nations. He said that he looked forward to a speedy agreement being signed in the near future.
As for mutual exchanges, the president said that he is looking forward to the passage of a law in the Parliamentary that would disallow detainment of items sent for the purpose of exhibition in Italy, so as to allow Italians the opportunity to personally view artifacts from the National Palace Museum - an important part of the cultural exchange between the two nations.
The President said he hoped that Landi, the Taiwan-friendly group and the Italian Parliamentary could offer their support for Taiwan to become a participant in the World Health Assembly.