On June 13 at the Office of the President, President Chen Shui-bian met with three high-ranking officials from the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, one of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Africa, including Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Finance Maria dos Santos Tebus Torres, Foreign Minister Carlos Gustavo dos Anjos, and Ambassador to the USA Ovidio Manuel Barbosa Pequeno.
The president first congratulated his guests on their country's successful parliamentary election on March 26, and on the victory of the political party led by his close friend, President Fradique de Menezes of Sao Tome and Principe. He also asked his guests to send his regards to President Menezes, who visited Taiwan for the fourth time last November.
President Chen visited Sao Tome and Principe for the first time in July 2002, and since then he has asked his administration to assist the country in fighting malaria. "Taiwan will continue to help Sao Tome and Principe eradicate malaria and cholera, and that is what friends are for," he told his guests.
The guests' visit to the Office of the President was accompanied by Sao Tome and Principe Ambassador to the ROC (Taiwan) Ladislau D'Almeida and Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Francisco L.Y. Hwang.