President Chen Shui-bian this morning attends the opening ceremony of a disaster prevention and mitigation center established by the Democratic Pacific Union (DPU). The President delivered a speech and praised efforts of Vice President Annette Lu, who helped set up the center in her capacity as chairperson of the DPU, as conducive to countries and people of the region as the center will serve as a platform for the exchange of information and knowledge on disaster prevention of the Asia-Pacific region.
President Chen urged that the DPU fulfill its visions of "peaceful coexistence," "democratic deepening," "consultation and cooperation," and "renaissance of humanism" in the Pacific rim and usher in a new Pacific era of "peace and dreams." The President said that although establishment of the disaster prevention and mitigation center seems like a minor step, he hoped all nations in the region, and even rest of the world, to cooperate closely in enhancing welfare of the mankind.