Taipei, July 9 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian presented a medal to Steve Young, outgoing deputy director of the Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Monday in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of Washington-Taipei relations.
Young, who has completed a three-and-a-half year stint in Taipei, was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star with Purple Grand Cordon.
Chen said that Taiwan and the United States have maintained their "best-ever" relations, contact and dialogue since he assumed the presidency in May of last year.
He attributed the improvement of substantive bilateral relations not only to the efforts of the people and governments of the two countries, but also to the role and function played by AIT.
It was the first time a ROC president has presented a medal to an official from a country which maintains no formal ties with Taipei, and also the first time an AIT official has received a medal from the ROC president.
Young, who described the presentation of medal as "his top personal honor," said that although the ROC and the United States do not maintain diplomatic relations, their current ties are "better than ever before."
He stated that he believes the United States will continue to side with its friend Taiwan and strive for the mutual interests of the two countries.