President Chen said that the participants in the delegation are all influential members of the European Parliament and are good friends and supporters of Taiwan. In addition to George Jarzembowski, the Chairman of the Taiwan Friendship Group, who is leading the delegation, other members participating in the visit are Hartmut Nassauer, the new Vice Chairman of the European People's Party, the largest party in the European Parliament, Werner Langen, the Chairman of the German delegation in the European People's Party, and Hubert Pirker, the Chairman of the delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula.
President Chen expressed his appreciation to Chairman Jarzembowski for his efforts in promoting the establishment of a representative office of the European Parliament in Taiwan. He also noted his deep gratitude for the European Parliament having repeatedly expressed its deep concern about the Anti-separation Law passed by China. President Chen also said that members of the visiting delegation played instrumental roles in passing resolutions many times in the European Parliament opposing the lifting of an arms embargo on China by EU nations.
President Chen also said that the European Parliament has also passed resolutions expressing its concern for peace and security in the Taiwan Strait, and also calling on China to remove the missiles it has deployed along its southeastern coast that are aimed at Taiwan. The European Parliament has repeatedly urged for disputes in the Taiwan Strait to be solved through dialogue and via peaceful means. The president noted that the European Parliament has also expressed its support many times for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization. He said he is highly appreciative of these efforts. He furthermore stressed that health, medical care and disease prevention know no boundaries. The WHO is founded on the core principle of global health, he said, adding that the right to health of the 23 million people of Taiwan should not be neglected or come under limitations. The president once again expressed his thanks for the strong support the European Parliament has given to Taiwan in this regard.
President Chen noted that on April 11 he formally sent a letter to WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan, expressing his hope that Taiwan could apply for entry into the WHO under the name "Taiwan." He said he was surprised that the WHO Secretariat replied that it could not tend to the issue since Taiwan is not a sovereign nation. The president said that Taiwan is of course a sovereign nation and that it maintains formal diplomatic relations with 23 WHO members and one WHO observer. As such, he said there is absolutely no doubt that Taiwan is a sovereign country. He said using the name "Taiwan" to apply to the WHO is not tantamount to changing the country's name. He said everyone is familiar with the name "Taiwan," and that this is the best and most beautiful name. President Chen expressed his hope that the European Parliament and the Taiwan Friendship Group in particular will pay the utmost attention to the issue and provide support in Taiwan's application to enter the WHO.