Taipei, May 23 (CNA) The present bilateral relations between Taipei and Washington are better since U.S. President George W. Bush came to power in 2000 than they have been for the last 30 years, President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday.
Chen made the remarks while giving a speech to welcome a 30-member delegation of the United States-based National Newspaper Association.
Describing Taipei-Washington ties as in their best shape ever, Chen said the two countries are "inseparable democratic allies" and he thanked the United States for its long-term support for Taiwan.
Based on common aspirations jointly shared by the two countries, such as democracy, freedom and human rights, Chen said the United States is willing to help Taiwan safeguard its democracy, while Taiwan will do its best to help maintain international order in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world. "Both countries hope for stability and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and increased trade and economic exchanges are mutually beneficial," the president noted.
Stressing that he has been pursuing a normalized and peaceful relationship between Taiwan and mainland China since his inauguration two years ago, he said that building Taiwan into an advanced and vigorous "green silicon island" and a progressive democracy has been high on the government's agenda.
Now, he noted, with Taiwan's entry into the World Trade Organization after a 12-year-long effort, the country is keen to be a constructive member of the international community and has cooperated in the U.S.-led war against terrorism, as well as extending humanitarian assistance to Afghan refugees.
However, the president also lamented the unfair treatment Taiwan receives in international society due to the strong pressure from Beijing. As the world's 14th-largest exporter and the seventh-largest trade partner of the United States, Taiwan does not enjoy the rightful dignity and international status due to a sovereign state, he added.
Although Taiwan has recently suffered a fresh defeat--the sixth in a row--in its bid to observe this year's World Health Assembly, Chen said Taiwan still thanks Washington and the American people for their firm backing for Taiwan. "As a sovereign and independent state, Taiwan will continue seeking to participate in major international organizations such as the United Nations," he said.
Turning to relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, Chen said Taiwan is willing to conduct negotiations with mainland China without any set preconditions, as long as "Taiwan is not downgraded or marginalized to the status of a local government by the mainland."
He also said setting up direct transport, trade and postal links across the strait is an unavoidable issue and that Taiwan should sign free trade agreements with the United States, Japan and Singapore to fend off the pull of the vast mainland Chinese market. "Taiwan and the mainland should increase contacts, dialogue and understanding to reduce misunderstanding and miscalculation," Chen urged, voicing his hope that mainland President Jiang Zemin will visit Taiwan and that he himself can embark on a trip to Fujian Province to trace his ancestral roots as soon as possible.