President Chen Shui-bian met with United States Senator Lisa Murkowski on November 1. During the meeting, President Chen expressed wholehearted welcome to his guest and his thanks to her parents, Alaska State Governor Frank Murkowski and his wife, for their attendance in the 3rd annual meeting of the Taiwan-Alaska Trade & Investment Cooperation Council (TATICC).
According to President Chen, Taiwan and Alaska have close cooperation in the energy, mining, forestry, fishery, and tourism industries, thanks to the concerted efforts of Governor Frank Murkowski and the president himself. Though Governor Frank Murkowski is about to leave his post as governor, and President Chen will finish his second-term presidency in 2008 as well, the friendship between Alaska and Taiwan will continue to grow, said President Chen.
Speaking to his guest of Taiwan's arms procurements approved by President Bush in 2001, President Chen apologized for the delay in the bills' passage in the Legislative Yuan. President Chen stressed that national security is the top priority of this country, and that the government will do its utmost to have the three major arms procurement bills passed so as to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capability.
As for the issue on Taiwan-China relations, President Chen showed appreciation to the US government for repeatedly calling for dialogue and consultations between the Chinese leaders and the democratically elected leadership of Taiwan. He also expressed his hope that Senator Murkowski, in her capacity as the Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, can urge the US government to play an active role to facilitate cross-strait contacts, dialogue and consultations.