President Chen Shui-bian met with Emil Constantinescu, former president of Romania, on the morning of January 24 at the Presidential Office. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), extended a cordial welcome and appreciation to the former president on his visit to Taiwan to participate in the First Global Forum on New Democracies.
President Chen said that prior to serving as the president of Romania, Former President Constantinescu visited Taiwan in 1994 for 10 days while he was still the president of the University of Bucharest. Two years later, he led the Democratic Convention of Romania to victories in local and parliamentary elections, shortly thereafter he was selected president. The former president led his nation through a period of political and economic reform and transformation. Former President Constantinescu is one of Eastern Europe's most accomplished champions of democracy, he said.
President Chen furthermore noted that the former president led Romanian university students and intellectuals in support of the movement toward democracy. Romania overthrew its communist regime in 1989, and Former President Constantinescu served as Romania's leader from 1996 to 2000. During that period, Romania instituted many political and economic reforms, helping to pave the way for that nation to join NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007.
President Chen said that the former president was interested in promoting improved relations between Taiwan and Romania during his presidency, and he sought to foster a substantive friendly and cooperative relationship. While he desired for the two nations to exchange representative offices, the plans were unable to be realized for various reasons. President Chen said he hopes that the former president will use his sway in Romania to encourage that nation to exchange representative offices with Taiwan on the model adopted by the European Union. The president mentioned that the European Union has not only set up a representative office here, but also is even working to establish the EU center. President Chen said Former President Constantinescu not only is an important member of the "Balkan Political Club," but also is an extremely influential political leader. The president hopes that in addition to bolstering relations with the Romanian government, Former President Constantinescu will be able to assist in the establishment of avenues for interaction and cooperation between Taiwan and the Balkan nations.
President Chen said both Taiwan and Romania are considered new democracies. While Taiwan has moved from authoritarianism to democracy, Romania has transformed from a communist state into a democracy. Both nations have experienced many of the same things along the path toward democracy, and both should share their experiences with the other. The president especially pointed out that he hopes the former president will share with other Forum participants the many difficulties and challenges faced, no matter whether the results were successful or lessons in hardship, during the course of Romania's pursuit of political and economic reform and transition.