President Chen Shui-bian on September 14 met with Austrian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Taiwan Caucus in the Austrian Parliament Wolfgang Grossruck. The president, on behalf of the government and 23 million people of the ROC (Taiwan), expressed the warmest welcome and gratitude to the Taiwan Caucus and Caucus Chairman Grossruck for the support they have provided to Taiwan over the years.
President Chen said Austria and Taiwan have long worked to expand economic and commercial cooperation, and growth in bilateral trade has been impressive in recent years. Last year, bilateral trade reached US$1.01 billion, with Austria maintaining a US$100 million trade surplus with Taiwan. In 2006, bilateral trade grew 34.1% from the previous year. Meanwhile, in the first half of this year, trade between the two nations reached US$610 million, which was a growth of 38.6% from the corresponding period last year. The president said he hopes that mutual visits and exchanges between the two countries will enable trade and commercial cooperation to expand even further.
President Chen said Austria's parliament in 2005 passed a resolution calling on the Austrian federal government to express its deep concern about the possibility of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait caused by the passage by China of the Anti-separation Law. The parliament passed the resolution on March 15, the day following China's enactment of the law. The resolution passed by Parliament also said that any dispute between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait must be resolved via peaceful dialogue. Meanwhile, in the first half of last year when Austria held the rotating chair of the European Union, it provided assistance in its role in an effort to obtain meaningful participation for Taiwan in the World Health Organization (WHO). As the chairman of the EU at the time, Austria, in reflection of the stance of its foreign affairs ministry and health ministry, contacted the secretary-general of the WHO and supported a role for Taiwan in the WHO. President Chen expressed his appreciation for these efforts.
President Chen also told the visitor that a large rally in support of holding a referendum to seek entry into the United Nations (UN) under the name "Taiwan" would be held in Kaohsiung on September 15. He said the referendum and the rally will express the will of the people of Taiwan to the world. The president said that while he realizes obtaining entry into the UN this year will be impossible, he still hopes that all of the members of the UN will understand the desire of Taiwan to enter the world body and listen to the voice of the Taiwan people. The president reiterated his gratitude to the Taiwan Caucus in the Austrian parliament for its friendship and support for Taiwan. He also said he hopes the caucus will continue to provide assistance and encouragement to Taiwan's UN bid.