Foreign Minister Tien Hung-mao stated that the purpose of Chen's trip was to consolidate Taiwan's diplomatic ties, and to strengthen friendships by building upon the existing foundation. Tien stressed that the president would not sign any new foreign aid agreements.
外交部長田弘茂也指出，陳水扁總統此次出訪友邦，目的在鞏固邦交，在既有的基礎上加強推動合作計畫，但不會簽訂新的援助計畫。