President Chen Shui-bian (
After arriving, Chen immediately contacted government representatives in Taiwan to get the latest news of approaching Typhoon Bilis.
Deputy Secretary-General to the President Eugene Chien (簡又新) said that President Chen woke up both Premier Tang Fei (唐飛) and Vice Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) after the national banquet held by Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore at 9:50pm local time, which was 5:50am, Aug. 22 in Taipei.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
Compaore shared his impressions of typhoons in Taiwan as he had been in Taipei two years ago attending National Day celebrations when Typhoon Zeb hit the island.
Chen said that Taiwanese were never defeated by natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes and invited Compaore to again visit Taiwan in October.
"I believe that the typhoon will not show up again this year when you come to visit," Chen said.
Early yesterday, Taiwan's 200-strong delegation was given an extravagant welcome including a formal military ceremony.
Thousands of people lined up along the main streets from Ouagadougou International Airport to the Presidential Office waving the two countries' national flags.
Simon Compaore, mayor of Ouagadougou, welcomed the two presidents.
Chen was presented three gifts -- a bowl of water, a bronze statue and a white sheep.
According to an official from Taiwan's embassy to Burkina Faso, both president's then drank the water, a symbol that guests must be thirsty after walking from a far away place to visit Burkina Faso.
The bronze statue of the cavalry which Chen was given is a gift in Burkina Faso showing the highest respect to the guest. As for the sheep, the official said, they are killed to entertain guests at a state banquet.
Burkina Faso is most famous for its "Mossi Dynasty" from the 11th century.
"Mossi" remain a major ethnic group in the nation and accounts for half the population of 10 million.
Following the reception ceremony, Chen had a short meeting with Compaore. Chen expressed Taiwan's appreciation to Burkina Faso for supporting its drive to join the UN and reaffirmed Taiwan's intention to continue all cooperation projects and agreements made by former the KMT administration.
Yesterday, presidents Chen and Compaore inspected farmland reclamation areas some 300km outside of Ouagadougou which were built with the help of Taiwan's agricultural cooperation groups.
Chen and Compaore both plowed, planted trees and even showed their skills at catching chickens. "Because I grew up on a farm, I feel right at home with a plow in my hand or catching chickens," Chen said.
Afterwards some young ladies offered to wash Chen's hands, however he declined the offer.
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