On June 23 at the Office of the President, President Chen Shui-bian met with Mohammed A.R. Galadari, owner of the Khaleej Times of the United Arab Emirates. The president said to him that the peace, security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait must be founded upon Taiwan's internal political stability.
Although Taiwan's investment in China takes up 30 percent of the total inbound investment to China, the president said to his guest that Taiwan's economic sovereignty must be maintained and China should not be Taiwan's sole and final market.
Galadari told the president the fact that the Chinese language is spoken in both Taiwan and China does not necessarily mean Taiwan and China should be finally united, saying that on the Arabian Peninsula there are different independent countries with only one language.
The president agreed with his guest, saying that "one country does not necessarily be formed by one race and vice versa."
The president told his guest that he took a short transit stop in the United Arab Emirates the year before, and he was impressed by the miracle of Dubai and Abu Dhabi that has transformed deserts into oases. He also told his guest that many cooperation projects are being undertaken according to the memorandum of understanding between Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates.
Along with his wife, Galadari visited the president in the company of Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Kau. Secretary-General to the President Mark Chen was also present in the meeting.