Compaoré and his wife met Chen at the Office of the President Nov. 20. At the reception, Chen congratulated Compaore on his outstanding achievements in international affairs and offered his best wishes to Burkina Faso's bid to become a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council between 2008 and 2009. Compaore replied that Burkina Faso was a sovereign state, and that the choice of Taiwan as its ally was a decision based on its free will. He assured Chen that Burkina Faso would work together with Taiwan to make Taiwan and its 23 million people accepted and recognized by international society.
Compaoré and his entourage attended a breakfast meeting in Taipei Nov. 21 hosted by Taiwan's Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association--an organization aimed at promoting Taiwan's economic ties with the rest of the world--to boost economic and trade exchanges between the two countries and attract more investors from Taiwan.
In comparison with other African countries, Burkina Faso boasted a stable political situation, a hard-working population and an abundant labor force, said Compaoré.
At a state banquet held in honor of Compaoré and his entourage in Kaohsiung City on the evening of Nov. 22, Chen announced that ROC Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien would make a formal visit to Burkina Faso in mid-December.
Chen also expressed his heartfelt gratitude in his speech for Burkina Faso's firm support for Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other major international organizations. Compaoré, for his part, thanked Taiwan for its long-term aid and assistance to various development projects in Burkina Faso. Chen met Compaore in Taipei for wide-ranging talks Nov. 23, and the two leaders signed a joint communique reaffirming their commitment to further expand bilateral cooperation. They also agreed to work in concert to promote freedom, democracy and world peace.
In related news, former Japanese prime minister Mori Yoshiro and his wife arrived in Taipei Nov. 21 for a three-day visit. Chen received Mori at the Office of the President and awarded him the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon for his long-term efforts in promoting friendship between Taiwan and Japan.
Mori held a book signing session Nov. 22 at the Eslite Book Store's flagship branch to promote the Chinese edition of "Alex the Duck," an illustrated children's book written by Mori and Teiko Miura. He also attended the opening ceremony of an exhibition to promote handicrafts from Ishikawa, his home prefecture.