President Chen Shui-bian received Johannes Andreas Pflug, member of the German Parliament, on October 13 and appreciated him for attending the ROC National Day celebrations.
President Chen said that Germany is Taiwan's largest trade partner in Europe, with their two-way trade accounting for one fourth of the Taiwan-Europe total. On the other hand, Taiwan is Germany's sixth largest trade partner in the world and its fourth largest in Asia. There are more than 240 German enterprises stationed in Taiwan and 175 Taiwanese businesses investing in Germany.
In addition, President Chen appreciated the participation by German companies in Taiwan's major constructions such as Taipei MRT, Kaohsiung MRT and Taiwan High Speed Rail.
President Chen praised the resolution passed by the German Parliament in 2004 against the removal of weapons embargo on China as a wise decision. The embargo was enforced 17 years ago after the Tiananmen Square Incident. Over the 17 years, he added, China has made little improvement on human rights and has continuously increased the number of missiles deployed against Taiwan along Southeast China.
President Chen maintained that the governmental role and participation in cross-strait contacts, dialogues and negotiations are irreplaceable and called on China to embark on the talks with Taiwan's government as soon as possible.
At the end of the meeting, President Chen called on Germany to follow the steps of Japan and the United States to support Taiwan to become an observer in the WHA.
MP Johannes Andreas Pflug's visit to the Office of the President was accompanied by Director General Detlef Boldt of the German Institute Taipei, Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Tzu-pao, and Deputy Secretary-General to the President Liu Shyh-fang.