President Chen Shui-bian on July 3 attended the opening ceremonies of the 22nd Forum of Speakers of the Legislative Bodies of the Central American and Caribbean Basin (FOPREL) at the Grand Hotel. On behalf of the government and 23 million people of the ROC (Taiwan), President Chen expressed a warm welcome to the guests who have made the long journey to Taiwan.
In remarks to the gathering, President Chen said that the staging of the 22nd FOPREL in Taiwan attests to the strong friendship of the tens of millions of people in Central America and the Dominican Republic to Taiwan and symbolizes the interaction among the people of Central America, the Dominican Republic and Taiwan.
The president said that the process of Taiwan's democratic development has admittedly been an arduous one, with the nation having faced many setbacks along the way. The government and people of Taiwan, however, have been resolute in their belief that the pursuit of democracy is the only route for Taiwan and is the most effective weapon in resisting the authoritarian system of China, he said. The president added that the sustainable development of a democratic Taiwan plays an important role in security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region as well as world peace. President Chen said he hopes that Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Central America, along with the Dominican Republic, will continue to support Taiwan's democratic development and will also support Taiwan in its efforts to actively participate in the international community and join the United Nations and other international organizations.