President Chen Addresses the Inauguration of the Taiwan-Russian Association
Taipei, July 27 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday that he hopes to achieve breakthroughs in three aspects with Russia during his term in office.
In a speech at the inauguration of the Taiwan-Russian Association, he described the three facets as direct air links between Taipei and Moscow, the promotion of bilateral trade relations and the signing of related agreements, and increased cooperation in science and technological fields, as well as in disaster prevention.
The president said that Taiwan and Russia are expected to reach the first-stage goal--air links--when Taiwan's China Airlines and Russia's Transaero Co. open chartered flight services between Taipei and Moscow next month.
He said that with Russia's excellent research and development capacity in the aviation, biochemical and chemical fields, and Taiwan's commercial creativity, bilateral cooperation will benefit the economies of both countries.
He said that the establishment of the association will not only help promote bilateral trade, but will also help promote bilateral cooperation in every aspect, including "party diplomacy, parliamentary diplomacy, city diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, humanitarian and academic diplomacy."
He went on to add that the establishment of the association signifies the combined efforts and determination of the government and private sectors of both sides. "At a time when mainland China is continuing to squeeze Taiwan's breathing space," he said, "Taiwan, like a rose that will not be crushed, is trying hard to reach out to the world."
Taiwan not only wants to solicit parity status with the rest of the world, it also wants to promote more trade opportunities and wider markets for its people, Chen said.
He recalled that when he visited Russia in his capacity as Taipei mayor in 1995 to receive an honorary doctorate from a Russian university, he met Vladimir Putin, then-deputy mayor of St. Petersburg. After all these years, he went on, both have since become presidents.
He also mentioned the exchanges between the two countries since the end of the Cold War, especially an 83-member rescue team from Russia that worked so hard in the wake of the disastrous earthquake of Sept. 21, 1999 in Taiwan.
The president also said that Taiwan is willing to provide experience and assistance in Russian's bid to join the World Trade Organization after Taiwan became a member of the world trade regulatory body early this year.
The association, inaugurated through the efforts of several economic groups and think tanks in Taiwan, including the Taiwan Institute for Economic Research and the China External Trade Development Council, aims to promote exchanges in trade and investment between Taiwan, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.