Taipei, March 6 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian Wednesday expressed his hope that Taipei's communications channels with Washington will be further expanded.
He made the remarks while receiving a Taiwan delegation which attended the 2002 White House breakfast prayer meeting early last month.
Chen affirmed the efforts of the delegation headed by Senior Presidential Advisor Peng Ming-min, saying that the U.S. government officials better understand Taiwan affairs through their talks with the delegation.
He said that partly because of the delegation's efforts, U.S. President George W. Bush made statements friendly toward Taiwan during his recent three-nation trip to Japan, South Korea and mainland China.
Peng told Chen that besides attending the breakfast prayer meeting, members of the delegation conferred with Department of State officials, congressmen and leaders from the business and media communities.
He said that the Americans were generally impressed by Taiwan's efforts to promote democracy, freedom and human rights after the transfer of ruling power from the Kuomintang to the Democratic Progressive Party following the March 18, 2000 presidential election.
Chen said that relations between Taiwan and the United States have become closer and friendlier than before.
But he said that he will suggest that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs further expand bilateral communications channels in addition to current routine personnel visits and exchanges with U.S. think tanks.
Other members of the delegation to the White House breakfast prayer meeting included National Policy Advisor Hsiao Hsin-huang, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kao Ying-mao, Legislator Parris Chang, Taiwan Institute for Economic Research President Wu Rong-i and Ke Cheng-en, dean of the Management College under National Taiwan University.