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Assets are the key to raising Taiwan's profile: Chen

The government will take full advantage of its assets and knowledge in areas such as trade, democracy, humanity and security in the near future to expand the nation's international presence, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday.

Chen made the remarks and expressed his appreciation for the continued support of overseas Taiwanese medical professionals for Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization (WHO) while receiving a delegation from the North American Taiwanese Medical Association (NATMA) yesterday at the Presidential Office.

CONSISTeNT EFFORT

"As long as Taiwan consistently believes in the values of democracy and human rights, I believe that we will eventually be accepted by international organizations, including the WHO, as it emphasizes the values of human rights," Chen said.

In March, NATMA set up a US-based non-governmental organization (NGO), the International Medical Mission Group. Its members carry out diverse exchange activities in places like Costa Rica, such as offering free medical treatment to local people.

Chen said that when Taiwanese people conduct such activities it places the spotlight on Taiwan's ability to help others and gives the nation exposure in the international community.

In the era of globalization, Chen said, the economic, social, cultural and technical development of Taiwan has a close relationship to the rest of the world.

JUXTAPOSITION

In a bid to have Taiwan included in the structures of global governance, over the next two years, "strengthening international participation" will be juxtaposed with other major policies, such as "establishing political order," "improving people's livelihoods" and "defending security and peace," Chen said.

"The Taiwanese government has to take the lead in breaking the nation's diplomatic isolation by fully exploiting our substantial assets in economic trade, democracy, humanity and security," he said.

Chen said Taiwan will focus on international negotiations and the participation of NGOs in a bid to open the door that will lead Taiwan to the rest of the world.

DEMONSTRATED ABILITY

The president said that Taiwan had already demonstrated its ability to offer rescue teams and medical assistance to the needy, such as during the Hurricane Katrina disaster in the US and the recent earthquake in South Asia.

Chen said that it was a pity that China's interference remains the only obstacle hampering Taiwan from participating in global disease control and prevention activities.

Chen said that Taiwan's efforts in the prevention of bird flu deserve to be noticed by the international community because he had already conducted two emergency meetings on the issue in August and last month, respectively.

SURVEY

In a survey conducted in April by Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia of 20 Asia-Pacific countries, Taiwan ranked third safest country in its ability to prevent the spread of a new type of human flu. With only Australia and Japan outperforming the nation.
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