President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said on Sunday he was looking forward to talking with US Secretary of State Colin Powell during his visit to Panama to attend the Central American country's centenary celebrations.
Chen made the remarks during a tea party with a group of Taiwanese reporters covering his overseas tour. He arrived in Panama earlier in the day after a two-day stop in New York.
Powell will head a delegation to attend Panama's centennial on behalf of US President George W. Bush, and Chen said he hopes to have courtesy chats with Powell and high-ranking officials of other countries.
PHOTO: SUNG CHIH-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Chen said "the US is Taiwan's best friend," and thanked the US for its reception for him in New York. He also indicated his wish to visit Washington in the future.
Chen visited historical ruins in Panama.
He said that he was very satisfied with his visit to New York.
"There were many breakthroughs in diplomatic activities when we made the transit stop in New York. These activities were consented by the US government in advance. We did not engage in these activities ad lib or try to use these activities to detect the US' bottom line," Chen said.
Chen said that the American Institute in Taiwan was consulted before any activities. He said it was not an accident that he talked to the media after paying tribute to Soong Mayling (
"The US-Taiwan relationship is based on mutual respect and trust, and most important of all, we should not do anything rash," Chen said.
When reporters asked whether Chen would try to visit Washington, he said that he had many expectations for the future, but that these things cannot be rushed. He said Taiwan could not take only its interests into consideration, but had to think of others as well.
"Taiwan and the US do not have official diplomatic ties. Therefore, there are no so-called rights or obligations," Chen said. "Many dreams cannot be realized at one go. But as long as we do not give up the dream but persist and believe in ourselves, one day we shall succeed."
Despite flying for more than 20 hours and participating in various functions, Chen said that he was not tired. However, due to a lack of sleep, Chen has grown a pimple on the front of his nose.
After arriving in Panama, Chen and his entourage changed into traditional Panamanian shirts.
Regarding the future of the US-Taiwan relationship, Chen said that mutual trust was the most important thing. Chen also warned that this trust could be destroyed completely overnight.
He said that, while Taiwan has had a difficult time, it should tolerate and keep silent on certain things to pursue the common interests for both countries.
"International society has been very unfair to Taiwan. But it is exactly because we have put up with so many discriminating issues in the past that we earned the courteous treatment when making the transit stop in New York. We have to cherish this achievement," he said.
Chen also praised Taiwan's representative to the US, Chen Chien-jen (程建人). President Chen said the success of the transit stop should be attributed to the efforts of those who played the role of "green leaves," adding that Chen Chien-jen was one of those green leaves.
President Chen also expressed his sympathy for Chen Chien-jen's wife, Yolanda Ho (何友蘭). A few days ago, Ho tried to send Lien Fang Yu (連方瑀), the wife of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), flowers when Lien was visiting Washington, but Lien declined the flowers.
"It was not very nice. The flowers should have been accepted as a courtesy. Therefore I would like to show my sympathy for Mrs. Chen, and I hope Chen would give his wife my sympathy for me and tell her not to mind," Chen Shui-bian said.
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