PRESIDENT STRESSES RESOLVE TO JOIN WHO IN TWO YEARS
2004-05-25 19:37:00
Taipei, May 25 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian stressed Taiwan's resolve to enter the World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday, and encouraged everyone to continue striving and stepping up international cooperation to that end.
Chen made the call at the weekly meeting of the policy-making Central Standing Committee of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in which Department of Health Minister Chen Chien-jen and Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Kau Ying-mao made key reports on Taiwan's bid to enter the World Health Assembly (WHA) -- the decision-making body of the WHO, as an observer this year, the eighth consecutive attempt.
Calling for greater efforts and endeavor to move toward the goal in the face of Beijing's all-out blockade, Chen said firm faith and lasting insistence is the major driving force behind Taiwan's pursuit of observer status at the WHA.
The president also issued instructions for enhanced and upgraded cooperation with other countries on the fronts of epidemic prevention, public health, humanitarian aid and medical care.
Although Taiwan failed in its eighth WHA bid, he claimed that the country has gained stronger and more substantive support from its diplomatic allies and friendly countries, including the United States and Japan, both of which voted in favor of Taiwan at the May 17 WHA annual conference held in Geneva.
A temporary setback does not mean a final fiasco, because subjective and objective conditions may not have been right for that time, Chen said, expressing his belief that Taiwan will eventually be embraced by the international community as long as it sticks to its ultimate goal by playing a constructive role in international society.
(By Flor Wang)
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