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Press Release

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater Transportation Policy Mission Arrival Statement June 14, 2000 Taipei, Taiwan

I am honored to be here on my first visit to Taiwan and I am pleased to have this opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen the long standing friendship between American people and people of Taiwan.

I travel to Taiwan at the invitation of the U.S.-ROC (Taiwan) Business Council and its Taiwan counterpart - the ROC-US Business Council. My attendance as the third consecutive U.S. Secretary of Transportation to participate in this annual meeting, reflects the importance that the United States places on its economic and commercial relations with Taiwan.

President Clinton and Vice President Gore are grateful for the work of these two Councils and applaud their efforts to promote broader and closer economic and trade relations between our peoples. Both the president and vice president firmly believe that transportation is the crucial link in enabling free trade to contribute to prosperity throughout the world in this new century and new millennium.

This year's conference theme: "Taiwan's New Landscape: Business Opportunities in the 21st Century," underscores the future economic and commercial relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. I look forward to hearing the perspectives of American and Taiwan businessmen and women, who are the foundation of our vibrant economic relationship.

I am also here to explore how the business community and transportation leaders can work together to encourage global economic development by improving the quality of the transportation choices and decisions we make - particularly over the next 25 years.

Taiwan continues to maintain its impressive economic growth - a reflection of the success of Taiwan's economic and political systems. The people of Taiwan are the key reason for this success story.

I look forward to my meetings in Taipei this week to discuss how we can expand our transportation and trade ties between the United States and Taiwan and the world.