Taipei, Nov. 12 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian Monday received Shigeo Nakajima, permanent honorary coach of Japan's Yomiuri Giants baseball team at the Presidential Office.
Chen said that he was honored to meet Nakajima and noted that Nakajima set a series of records during his 17-year professional baseball career.
Chen said that Nakajima not only held records in Japan for most home runs, most runs batted in (RBI), highest batting average, best fielding and most valued baseball player, but also had a long relationship with Sadaru Oh, known in Taiwan as Wang Chen-chih -- a baseball player from Taiwan who made his professional name playing in Japan -- and took the Giants to nine consecutive championships.
Chen also pointed out that he named 2001 as "Taiwan's year of baseball" and added that he is happy that the 34th Baseball World Cup is being held in Taiwan.
Chen said that his administration has recently decided to nominate Wang as an ROC ambassador-at-large in sports to help promote sports diplomacy in the international community.
The president further expressed the hopes that the 34th Baseball World Cup will revive baseball in Taiwan and that Nakajima will serve as a bridge for sports exchanges between the two countries.
Vice Foreign Minister Wu Tzu-dan and Chairman of the Cabinet-level National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Hsu I-hsiung were also present at the meeting.