Taipei, Dec. 19 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian expressed appreciation Thursday for the long-term support of the Commonwealth of Dominica to Republic of China's bid to enter the United Nations and other international organizations.
Chen made the remarks when he received Dominican Prime Minister Pierre Charles at the Presidential Office.
The president said that although the ROC and Dominica are geographically distant, both are maritime countries that share the same ideals on such universal values as democracy, freedom and human rights.
The president said that he is gratified to see that many cooperation projects between the two nations have progressed smoothly over the past five years and he expressed hope that the two sides will have more exchanges in the future.
Chen noted that this was Charles' second visit to Taiwan and he expressed hope that the prime minister will share Taiwan's experience in politics and economics. The ROC Navy's Friendship Fleet will also pay a call to the eastern Caribbean country next April, the president added.
For his part, Charles said that the ROC is a country of compassion and that many countries have benefited from its generous assistance. Taiwan's achievements in the information and high-tech industries are the envy of others, and a shining example for Dominica, he added.
He reaffirmed that his country will continue to speak out for Taiwan and steadfastly support its bids to play a major role in the international community.
Chen said that although Dominica is small, it speaks volumes. The population of the country is not large, but it is happy and loves freedom, peace and justice, national characteristics that the ROC admires, he added.