Taipei, Feb. 21 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Friday that the establishment of a Mongolian representative office in Taipei, which is expected to be opened by the end of this month, will mark an important milestone in the development of Taiwan-Mongolia relations.
Receiving S. Demberel, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mongolia at the Presidential Office, Chen said that he is satisfied with the development of Taiwan-Mongolia relations and that he hopes bilateral ties can be further strengthened.
Chen said that he has made a lot of effort to promote bilateral ties, including establishing a sisterhood relationship between Taipei and Ulan Bator when he was Taipei mayor, working together with former Mongolian Prime Minister Janlav Narantsatsralt for the establishment of the Taiwan-Mongolia Association and the Mongolia-Taiwan Association, and an agreement to set up representative offices in each other's capital.
In addition, he continued, the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association signed a cooperation agreement with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mongolia in January, 2002, the first Taiwan-Mongolia economic cooperation meeting was held in Ulan Bator last year and Taiwan's representative office in Ulan Bator has been in operation since last September.
The exchange of visits between the two countries has also been increasing, Chen went on, saying that he had received various important Mongolian visitors over the past two months, including Narantsatsralt who now serves as a congressman, a former secretary-general of Mongolia's National Security Council and others.
Chen also extended a warm welcome to Demberel and said that his visit to Taiwan will be absolutely contributive to the bilateral ties.