Taipei, Feb. 21 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian on Friday called for cooperation and support for the Republic of China government from all members of overseas Chinese communities worldwide.
President Chen solicited the support and cooperation of overseas Chinese from Japan in particular, saying that they had not only contributed to helping establish the Republic of China and to the country's growth in past decades, they have also helped with Taiwan's economic growth and diplomatic gains in recent years.
He said that Taiwan, despite being a small country in territorial size, is one of the major economic powerhouses in the world. The country, nevertheless, now faces various challenges from within and without as the global and domestic situations change.
The president made the remarks during an audience at the Presidential Office with a delegation of overseas Chinese and Taiwanese from Yokohama, Japan.
He offered his gratitude to the overseas Chinese delegates from Japan, noting that they have contributed commendably in bolstering and maintaining substantive bilateral relations between Taiwan and Japan over the past years.
Although Taiwan and Japan do not maintain formal diplomatic ties, President Chen said that the two countries are interrelated historically and that bilateral and private ties have continued to increase in recent years.
He added that just like in the past, when the overseas Chinese in Japan played instrumental roles in the country's important political junctures, today's overseas Chinese in Japan are also major supporters of Taiwan's social, cultural, economic and political development.