Concluding his unprecedented trip to Europe, President Chen Shui-bian (
"We are very honored that the flight bound for Taiwan carried not just one, but two presidents," Chen said in a radio broadcast from the plane upon arrival at CKS International Airport.
"It symbolizes the staunch relationship between Taiwan and Honduras, as well as the warm relations between President Maduro and A-bian," Chen added, referring to himself -- as he habitually does -- in the third person by his nickname.
PHOTO: CNA
Maduro, who has visited the country several times, was to travel from Taiwan to the Japanese island of Okinawa to attend an annual conference of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration.
Maduro was in the Vatican to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral.
Chen invited his Honduran counterpart to board the China Airlines charter flight with him after the two leaders ran into each other in the VIP room at Da Vinci Airport in Rome, the Presidential Office's Department of Public Affairs said.
During their discussions onboard the plane, Maduro expressed his hope that he would get to meet Chen again in August, when Central Latin American nations hold their summit in Nicaragua.
In a speech delivered after arriving at CKS International Airport, Chen said his trip would help cement Taipei-Vatican ties, despite speculation that the Holy See was ready to switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing.
"I became the first incumbent president to set foot in Saint Peter's square since Taiwan and the Vatican established diplomatic ties 63 years ago, to pay my final respects to the Pope," Chen said. "[The ties] are growing stronger everyday."
Chen is the first president from the Republic of China to make a visit to the Holy See since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1942. The trip to the Vatican also marks the first time a sitting president from Taiwan has set foot in a European country.
Chen, leading a delegation of five, attended the Polish pontiff's funeral on Friday at the invitation of the Holy See.
After the funeral, Chen dined with staff members from Taiwan's embassy in the Holy See and Representative Office in Italy, as well as members of a pro-Taiwan group in the Italian parliament.
In his speech addressing the occasion, Chen called for leniency and reconciliation among political parties at home and between the two sides of Taiwan Strait.
"Only leniency and reconciliation will pave the way for harmony among the different political parties and ethnic groups, and is the cornerstone for peace with China," Chen said.
Chen then paid a visit to Taiwan's embassy to the Holy See. Situated near Saint Peter's square, the embassy moved to its new location last month.
Chen also took a quick sight-seeing tour to the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome before heading to Da Vinci Airport for his flight home.
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