to attend the annual National Prayer Breakfast as the envoy of President Chen Shui-bian. Hsieh is being accompanied on his visit by Wu Li-pei, a former senior adviser to President Chen Shui-bian; several ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, including Hsieh Hsin-ni and Hsu Kuo-yung; and Chen Chien-chung, a commissioner of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs.
In reply to media questions upon his arrival, Hsieh said he will meet with members of the U.S. Congress as well as several think tanks during his stay in Washington, D.C.
Asked about Taiwan's current state and future, Hsieh said he thinks "solidarity" is the most important thing for the country to strive for now.
In response to a question about how the DPP will nominate its candidate for the 2008 presidential election, Hsieh expressed the hope for more intra-party communication and suggested that the party build a negotiation mechanism regarding election affairs.
The National Prayer Breakfast is an unofficial, non-political and private gathering whose spirit lies in friendship and sharing. The organizers have traditionally invited some 3,000 leading politicians, opinion leaders and representatives from all walks of life from more than 150 countries around the world to attend. As in the past, U.S. President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and influential members of Congress will attend the event, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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