This is Chen's third trip abroad in his first two full years in office. Before leaving he said that the main focus of this trip would be on medical and food issues in countries that have steadfastly supported the ROC.
這是陳水扁總統在就職滿兩年後，第三度出國訪問，行前他指出，此行的意義在於關懷過去為我國仗義執言友邦的醫療、糧食問題。