Taiwan Today

Confucius said the welcoming of friends from afar is one of life's greatest pleasures. The Republic of China has recently greeted two good friends: Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn of Thailand and prime minister Harold E. Holt of Australia. The Thai leader was the first. He arrived March 27 and spent a week seeing the island and discussing world affairs with President Chiang Kai-shek and other leaders of the Chinese government. In a communique, President Chiang and Prime Minister Thanom expressed Sino-Thai unity in the face of Red aggression. Photo at upper right shows (from left) the Prime Minister's wife, Thanpuying Chongkol Kittikachorn; Prime Minister Thanom; and Vice President and Mrs. C. K. Yen. Center, the Prime Minister and Vice President-Premier C. K. Yen leave the National Palace Museum after viewing China's masterpieces of art.

 

 

Prime Minister Thanom wanted to see the island and traveled to the south, where he watched the handling of the bananas for export to Japan. This crop earns more than US$50 million a year. He also observed industrial advances. The final communique said the Prime Minister was "greatly impressed by the astounding progress" achieved under the leadership of President Chiang Kai-shek.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A career military man, Prime Minister Thanom is concurrently defense minister and holds a field marshal's baton. He was the guest of Defense Minister Chiang Ching-kuo on an inspection visit to the arsenal of the Combined Service Forces.

 

 

 

Protocol was not neglected. Prime Minister Thanom wears his newly received Order of the Brilliant Star as he presents as gift from Thailand to Vice President Yen (top). The Thai leader conferred decorations (middle) on Vice President and Mrs. C.K. Yen and on Presidential Secretary-General Chang Chun (extreme right). At the largest port and second biggest cit of Kaohsiung in the south. Prime Minister Thanom took a look at the busy harbor (bottom) and a new export processing zone that has attracted millions of dollars in foreign investment. Imported raw materials are processed in bonded factories and exported, avoiding customs duty and slashing red tape. Thailand also is industriazing and hopes to profit from the experience of Taiwan.

 

 

 

 

 

Thailand's prime minister is an ardent golfer and he enjoyed playing the broad, tree-lined fairways of the Nanchichang course in Taipei. The wife of the Thai leader had her own program of activities. At the Hua-hsing Children's Home, she presented a check while her daughter gave dolls to the orphans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prime Minister Harold E. Holt of Australia came to Taiwan April 4 for a stay of three days. He received a 19-gun salute at the airport and was greeted by leaders of the Republic of China's government. Shown in the top photo are (from left) Prime Minister Holt, Mrs. C. K. Yen, Mrs. Holt, Vice President and Premier C. K. Yen and Foreign Minister Wei Tao-ming. Bottom: Prime Minister Holt shakes hands with James Wei, director of the Government Information Office. Smiling at his Australian friend (to right of Wei, wearing glasses) is James Shen, former GIO director and recently named the Republic of China's ambassador to Canberra.

 

 

 

 

Military honors were accorded Prime Minister Holt at Sungshan airport. Vice President C. K. Yen accompanied the visitor for review of honor guard (top). From Mayor Henry Kao called the key to Taipei city (bottom). Holt was the first Australian prime minister ever to visit the Republic of China. He spoke warmly of the long friendship between the two countries and noted that Australia recently re-established its embassy in the ROC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sino-Australian trade has climbed rapidly, although both nations are industrializing. Taiwan buys most of its wool from Australia. The Australians are buying both foods and industrial products in Taiwan. Prime Minister Holt showed great interest in the export processing zone at Kaohsiung (top), which was opened only last December and already is nearly sold out with US$20 million worth of investment. He also inspected an aluminum plant (bottom) that is being expanded to meet bigger domestic and export demand. The Sino-Australian relationship also has been drawn closer as a result of the increasing danger from Communism. Prime Minister Holt and President Chiang Kai-shek agreed that Asia is the crucial target of Red aggression and that greater regional unity is essential.

Taiwan's fastest growing industry is electronics. Many of the factories are investments of large American and Japanese companies. Prime Minister Holt was interested in transistor testing equipment and assembly line production methods. Before his departure, the top administrator of the Australian Commonwealth said he "was greatly impressed by the vitality of the people, the tremendous progress that has been made in the field of economic development, and the political stability that the country enjoys under the inspiring leadership of President Chang."