Speaking to a group of foreign dignitaries, President and DPP Chairman Chen Shui-bian (
In the DPP's annual reception for diplomats and representatives, Chen indicated the party, 16 years after its establishment, has worked to actively participate in international society and aims to closely connect to the global trends of freedom and democracy.
Capable party
More importantly, the president said, is that the DPP, in its two years in power, has demonstrated its capability to break the country out of its diplomatic isolation -- this despite China's sustained efforts to suppress Taiwan.
As a part of the celebrations for the DPP's 16th anniversary, the reception was held at the Ambassador Hotel in downtown Taipei, where diplomats based in Taipei and other high-ranking officials were in attendance to express their best wishes to the party, which was founded on Sept. 28, 1986.
Officials such as Vice President Annette Lu (
Sawadogo, Ambassador of Burkina Faso and chief of the diplomatic corps, in return gave his regards to the party and expressed his gratitude on the DPP's friendship and respect for its foreign friends.
As he outlined the party's success in multi-track diplomacy, Chen stated the DPP has won world recognition and gained international support through inter-party organizations.
The DPP is the third Asian political party to become a member of Liberal International. As a member of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, the party will chair its annual meeting next year.
Chen said he hopes such exchanges will serve as an opportunity for Taiwan to contribute substantively to political democratization in the Asia-Pacific region.
The president added that, since its founding 16 years ago, the DPP has been the nation's driving force for progress. Taiwan has not only become liberal and democratic, but is also a human-rights-oriented country.
But he said the party still faces challenges after having achieved the rotation of power in May 2000.
Domestically, the party initiated reform by synchronizing operations of the administration and the party. The reform turned the party into a platform for executive, legislative and political coordination.
In the international arena, Taiwan joined the WTO on Jan. 1 this year and assisted in the post-Sept. 11 anti-terror campaign.
Chen said the party has recognized these changes in the international environment and knows Taiwan is obligated to contribute its share to the world.
Confidence
In his final comments, Chen told the audience he is confident of the DPP's ability to overcome the diplomatic hurdles in the face of China's constant suppression of Taiwan in the international arena.
"We must neither retreat nor limit ourselves because of the constraints placed upon us," he said.
Chen was proud to detail the successes Taiwan has made on the diplomatic front including Lu's surprise visit to Indonesia, Chang's trip to Japan and Russia, and his wife Wu Shu-chen's (吳淑珍) historic trip to the US, which ended Sunday.
According to Chen, these landmark missions prove that strength of will and a positive attitude bring success.
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