President Chen Shui-bian attended an annual convention of the Taiwan Chapter of the Lions Club International (LCI) on May 21, and extended his support to the organization's bid to rename itself with Taiwan identity.
The official name of the Taiwan Chapter of the LCI was changed from "ROC Lions Club" to "China Taiwan Lions Club" by LCI's headquarters in 2002, and since then this regional organization has sought all the means to remove China's implication in its name.
The president said at the convention that the organization's name, altered as "China Taiwan Lions Club," and the hurdles blocking Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly both attest to China's attempt to render Taiwan cornered in the international community.
The president also called on the Lions Club members to continue their efforts in elevating Taiwan's overall competitiveness, whose growth, business environment, and information technology (IT) are currently ranked 5th, 6th, and 7th in the world.
In conclusion, the president wished all the Lions Club members health and great success.