Taipei, May 24 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Thursday that El Salvador and the Republic of China share a long-standing friendship and that the ROC will continue to cooperate closely with the central American nation toward mutually complimentary and beneficial relations.
Chen, who arrived in El Salvador on the first leg of his five-nation Latin American trip, made the remarks at a banquet hosted in his honor by El Salvador President Francisco Perez Flores.
Chen said he was deeply moved by the beauty of El Salvador when the plane touched down, adding that since El Salvador ended a 12-year civil war, it has achieved progress in the political, social and economic fields.
Chen noted that El Salvador suffered huge losses during the strong quakes in January and February this year, but added that Flores' government has been able to map out a reconstruction plan and he is convinced the El Salvador will regain its feet.
He also lauded Flores as a man of "ideals and principles" and one who is concerned about his people, adding that Flores was born Oct. 17, 1959, making Flores eight years younger than himself and part of a world trend toward younger leaders. The 50-year-old Chen said that his 2000 election was already a record for ROC presidents in terms of youth.
Chen said that under Flores' leadership, El Salvador has moved toward eliminating poverty, cutting illiteracy and extending medical care to the general public. In addition, its economic development is also one of the best in Central America.
The ROC president also said that the ROC has made rapid economic development over the past 50 years and has successfully turned from authoritarian rule to a plural democracy. Last year also saw the first peaceful political power transfer in the island's history.
Chen noted that the parties of both he and Flores are minorities in their respective legislatures and that he wants to learn from Flores how to join forces with the opposition to from a stable parliamentary majority.
Chen also said that he brought to El Salvador the "staunchest friendship from the ROC government and people." He also said he brought no money, but rather "a fishing rod" for Flores, and recounted that Flores said he would "inform me when he catches his first fish."