President Chen Shui-bian received two Belgian parliamentarians at the Office of the President on April 12. The president shared with the guests Taiwan's democracy and asked them to urge their parliament to pass a resolution in support of Taiwan's 2006 bid to participate in the World Health Assembly.
Senator Alain Destexhe told the president that he was deeply impressed by Taiwan's economy, democracy, and energetic multi-cultural society, and Representative Stef Goris, the other Belgian delegate, told the president that Taiwan's democracy and human rights records can be a role model for the other Asian countries to look up to. The two guests also agreed with the president that Taiwan's 23 million citizens are fully entitled to decide their future and any cross-strait disputes should be solved through peace talks.
"The international community has often misinterpreted Taiwan people's pursuit of freedom, democracy and peace as a road leading to de jure Taiwan independence," the president told his guests, and further assured them that, regarding Taiwan's future, no possibilities will be precluded if they are consented by the 23 million citizens on the island.
As the Belgian House of Representatives passed resolutions in 2002 and 2005 in support of Taiwan's participation as an observer in the World Health Assembly, President Chen again called for his guests' and their parliament's support to Taiwan's bid this year.
Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Chang Siao-yueh and Secretary-General to the President Mark Chen also joined the meeting.