Taiwan president silent on meetings with New York mayor, stock exchange CEO

NEW YORK (AFX-ASIA) - Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has met with New York City officials and will be respecting "a mutual understanding" with the U.S. government not to publicise his visit, a Taiwanese official said.

The only person willing to talk openly to reporters was Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who met Chen, an old friend, for 30 minutes over breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

"We discussed the economy of Taiwan, the economic relationship between New York and Taiwan, and how we can expand that relationship," Giuliani told a news conference.

A Taiwanese official, speaking to Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. administration of President George W. Bush had been "quite different" from that of Bush's predecessor, Bill Clinton, adding: 

"They have been very helpful."

When Chen made a stopover in Los Angeles on his way to Central America last year, "the Clinton administration discouraged congressmen to meet him," the official said.

Related stock : (NIL)