President Chen Shui-bian this afternoon welcomed President Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes of Sao Tome and Principe with a military honor guard.
Excerpts from the President's remarks:
A profound friendship can lead friends to see each other even from thousands of miles away, and we welcome our friends from Sao Tome and Principe, the "formosa of Africa," to visit Taiwan, the "formosa of Asia." I extend my warmest welcome on behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to President Menezes and his delegation to our country. I am glad indeed that President Menezes leads the delegation to Taiwan, which is the fourth visit to this country, and so the two of us can meet again.
I would like to take this opportunity to exchange opinions comprehensively with my dearest brother, President Menezes, over the current affairs in African, relationships between our two countries, and issues concerning the interests of both countries. Meanwhile, I hope that our Sao Tome friends would know more about the consolidation and deepening of the democratization of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) and have a further understanding about the democracy, freedom and prosperity that the people of Taiwan now enjoy.
I wish President Menezes and all the delegation a wonderful trip in Taiwan and good health and happiness to President Menezes, and everlasting friendship between the R.O.C. (Taiwan) and Sao Tome and Principe.