Taipei, May 2 (CNA) Vice President Annette Lu said Friday she is confident that Taiwan will be able to defeat severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the foreseeable future under the leadership of President Chen Shui-bian and the close cooperation of the government and the public.
Lu made the remarks during a meeting with her Palau counterpart, Sandra S. Pierantozzi, who arrived in Taipei Tuesday for a five-day visit aimed at boosting substantive relations between the two countries.
The potentially deadly flu-like disease "jumped out" of mainland China like a "mysterious enemy" while all the world was focusing their attention on the U.S.-led war on Iraq, Lu said, adding that the disease has been spreading rapidly to other countries and areas, thus posing a great threat to the whole world.
Voicing the hope that Pierantozzi, who concurrently serves as health minister, hasn't been frightened by what she has seen or heard during her visit, Lu said that the epidemic will be overcome by combined efforts of the health authorities and medical personnel in the near future.
Lu extended a warm welcome to the Palau vice president and said that she is very happy to meet Pierantozzi as they both pursued advanced studies at Harvard University. Lu also lauded Pierantozzi as a prominent leader who has secured strong support from the people of Palau.
For her part, Pierantozzi extended her congratulations to Lu for having become the Republic of China's first female vice president. Following the meeting, Lu hosted a dinner party in honor of her guest.