President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen and Tong inked the document at the Presidential Office, with the two heads of state promising to settle regional and international disputes through peaceful means such as dialogue and negotiations in line with principles of equality and fairness.
Chen and Tong also vowed to enhance and upgrade bilateral cooperative ventures based on their current cordial relations.
Praising Taiwan's development on the economic, political and social fronts, Tong thanked Chen for the warm reception that the government and its people extended to him and invited Chen to visit his South Pacific nation.
Tong also wished Chen success in his re-election bid and expressed his hope that he could visit Taiwan again to take part in Chen's inauguration in May.
Tong left for Kiribati later yesterday.
Prior to his departure, he was accorded a farewell ceremony at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
On Thursday, Tong and his entourage were treated to a state banquet featuring Hakka food at a resort villa in Hsinchu County.
Tong and his wife arrived in Taiwan on Monday for a five-day visit. It was Tong's first visit to Taiwan after he assumed the presidency in July 2003.
While here, Chen and Tong discussed and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern and international affairs.
The two countries set up diplomatic ties in November last year, making Kiribati the 27th nation to recognize Taiwan.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Many Japanese couples are coming to Taiwan to obtain donated sperm or eggs for fertility treatment due to conservatism in their home country, Taiwan’s high standards and low costs, doctors said. One in every six couples in Japan is receiving infertility treatment, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare data show. About 70,000 children are born in Japan every year through in vitro fertilization (IVF), or about one in every 11 children born. Few people accept donated reproductive cells in Japan due to a lack of clear regulations, leaving treatment in a “gray zone,” Taichung Nuwa Fertility Center medical director Wang Huai-ling (王懷麟)
PROXIMITY: Prague is closer to Dresden than Berlin is, so Taiwanese firms are expected to take advantage of the Czech capital’s location, the Executive Yuan official said Taiwan plans to boost cooperation with the Czech Republic in semiconductor development due to Prague’s pivotal role in the European IC industry, Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said. With Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) building a wafer fab in the German city of Dresden, a Germany-Czech Republic-Poland “silicon triangle” is forming, Kung said in a media interview on the weekend after returning from a visit to Prague. “Prague is closer to Dresden than Berlin is, so Taiwanese firms are expected to take advantage of the Czech capital’s location,” he said. “Taiwan and Prague have already launched direct flights and it is
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