Before arriving in St. Peter's Square, President Chen exchanged pleasantries with former US president George H. W. Bush and shook hands and had a brief conversation with former US president Bill Clinton, who visited Taiwan recently. Chen thanked Clinton for America's support of Taiwan.
陳總統抵達現場前還曾與前美國總統老布希揮手致意，並與不久前才造訪台北的前美國總統柯林頓握手交談，感謝美國對台灣的支持。