President Lee Teng-hui this morning says that the government of the Republic of China attaches great importance to educational development in this country and that, while actively embarking on educational reform in recent years, the ROC would very much like to strengthen cultural exchanges with other countries.
The President makes the remarks in receiving Dr. Albert Carnersale, provost of Harvard University of the United States, who is on a 3-day visit to Taiwan.
Dr. Carnersale is accompanied by Dr. Ma Ying-jeou, ROC minister of state, and Mr. John Mills, East Asia Representative of Harvard University, to the Office of the President for the meeting. Also present is Mr. Stephen S.F. Chen, deputy secretary-general to the President.
Giving a warm welcome to Dr. Carnersale, the President says that Harvard University is a internationally-renowned institution which has cultivated numerous leaders in different fields around the world. Many ranking ROC officials are graduates of Harvard, such as Dr. Ma Ying-jeou, he adds.
President Lee also hopes that Harvard University can share its rich experiences with ROC academies and that exchanges between both sides can be further strengthened.
Meanwhile, the President notes that the ROC and the United States share the same values and spirits centered on freedom, democracy, and justice.
For his part, Dr. Carnersale tells President Lee that it is his fifth visit to Taipei and that he is deeply impressed by the ROC's progressive development in recent years, especially in the political arena.