Taipei, June 1 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian received an honorary doctorate Friday from National Asuncion University and called for enhanced two-way academic exchanges.
In a speech to the National Asuncion University authorities following the ceremony, Chen thanked Paraguay's top university for the honor and said it was the most precious moment of his three-day state visit to the ROC's sole diplomatic ally in South America.
Paraphrasing a poem by U.S. poet Walt Whitman, Chen said he was very touched when looking out at the young, enthusiastic and smiling students of the university. "What I see is not only singing and youth, but the hope and bright future of this country," he said.
The ROC president compared National Asuncion University to his own alma mater -- National Taiwan University -- for its long history and regional academic status. He hailed the university as the cradle of Paraguay's talent and elite and voiced his belief that the leading Paraguayan university will play a pivotal role in the country's future. "As a faithful ally of Paraguay, I truly believe that the ROC should further boost its academic exchanges with National Asuncion University and help it cultivate more talent to help accelerate Paraguay's development," he said.
Chen attributed the ROC's economic and political progress over the past 50 years to the country's successful education, particularly its higher education. With the country's sole resource -- high quality manpower -- Taiwan has managed to achieve outstanding progress with "locally trained political and economic experts," he noted.
Stressing that the ROC and Paraguay are "genuine partners on the path toward progress," the ROC president wished Paraguay luck in overcoming all its difficulties under the capable leadership of President Luis Angel Gonzalez Macchi and also in achieving its own political and economic miracle.