President Chen Shui-bian met with Republic of Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau and his wife at the Presidential Office in the afternoon of December 24. The president extended a warm welcome to President Remengesau and members of his family on their visit to Taiwan and also wished them a Merry Christmas.
President Chen expressed his congratulations on the signature of a memorandum of understanding between Palau National Communications Corp. and Chunghwa Telecom Co. in the middle of this month that is aimed at improving the quality and technology of Palau's telecommunications network. The president also thanked President Remengesau for his assistance and support rendered to Taiwan's tuna fishing boats operating in waters off Palau. On December 14 and 15, President Remengesau personally attended the Taipei International Travel Fair, hoping to attract even more Taiwan tourists to vacation and go diving in Palau. President Chen said he hopes that Far Eastern Air Transport will increase the frequency of its flights to Palau next year.
President Chen made a special point of thanking President Remengesau for taking time out of his busy schedule to attend the Second Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit in the Marshall Islands in October. President Chen said President Remengesau's presence at the summit was important in helping to make it a rousing success. At the time, the leaders made a date to attend the ceremonies marking the inauguration of the Ching Fu Group Headquarters in Kaohsiung at the end of 2007. The Third Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit will be held in Kaohsiung in March of next year. The president said he regrets that Nauru President Ludwig Derangadage Scotty and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare were unable to attend the inauguration event in Kaohsiung due to pressing events in their nations.
President Chen said he hopes that President Remengesau, who has brought his family with him to Taiwan this time, will take advantage of the opportunity to visit many parts of the island. He especially recommended taking a ride on the Taiwan High Speed Rail, which is a high-speed rail system only in use in five other countries throughout the world. He said he hopes that President Remengesau will take as much pleasure and pride in riding the rail line as do the people of Taiwan.
President Remengesau said that while he will leave office next year, he is delighted that efforts made by both countries over the past eight years have helped to substantially strengthen relations not only between Taiwan and Palau, but also between Taiwan and other Pacific island nations. He said that President Chen has personally made trips to Pacific island nations during his presidency, helping to foster a better understanding of Taiwan among people of allied Pacific nations. President Remengesau said that during his final year in office over the coming year, he will continue to speak on behalf of Taiwan in the international community. He said that while politicians will come and go, friendship is lasting. He said he hopes to maintain contact with President Chen in the future and to continue to work with him to further bilateral ties.
President Remengesau and his wife were accompanied to the Presidential Office in the afternoon by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Elizabeth Y. F. Chu. Also in attendance was Secretary-General to the President Yeh Chu-lan.