Taipei, May 6 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian Monday thanked the visiting prime minister of the Solomon Islands for the South Pacific country's continued support for Taiwan's bid to participate in international organizations.
Chen also congratulated Solomons Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza for his victory in his country's parliamentary elections last December.
The president said that the two countries already have well-established cultural exchanges as well as bilateral cooperation in medicine and fishing.
Chen added that he hopes Taiwan and the Solomon Islands--under Kemakeza's leadership--will continue to boost their substantial ties.
For his part, Kemakeza thanked the Republic of China for providing various kinds of assistance to the Solomon Islands in its pursuit of peace. The former British colony was plagued by two years of factional fighting that left 200 dead.
Kemakeza pledged to continue supporting Taiwan's bid to participate in international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations.
The Solomon Islands, which proclaimed independence in 1978, is situated northeast of Australia. With a population of 480,000, it established diplomatic relations with the Republic of China in 1983.