Rep. Hinchey's Statement (R-NY)

 Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian will be making a goodwill tour of Latin American later this month and will be stopping briefly in New York.

We welcome this distinguished visitor to New York and hope that he will come back to the United States more often.Moreover, May 20th marks President Chen Shui-bian's first anniversary in office. Voters in Taiwan have given President Chen high approval ratings during his presidency. He has maintained a slow but steady economic growth, minimizing the impact of a worldwide economic slowdown on Taiwan's economy. Abroad, President Chen has been strengthening relations with allies and friends and continues to pursue a fruitful dialogue with leaders in the People's Republic of China. Due in part to President Chen's diplomatic efforts, peace continues to reign in the Taiwan Strait.

President Chen has also fortified Taiwan's relations with the U.S. Taiwan is the eighth largest trading partner of the United States. Taiwanese tourists and students all prefer the United States and spend their dollars here. Bilateral relations between Taiwan and the U.S. are excellent. Both countries share the same fundamental valuesof freedom, democracy, human rights, peace and prosperity.

I am pleased to express my congratulations to President Chen on his first anniversary in office and to wish him apleasant and productive visit to my home state of New York.