Former President to Visit Taiwan
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Former President Kim Young-sam will leave for Taiwan Thursday to attend a meeting of former pro-democracy leaders of the world, including former Polish President Lech Walesa.
According to Kim's aides Monday, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian invited Kim and his wife, Sohn Myeong-soon.
During his five-day stay, Kim will also exchange views on expanding bilateral relations with President Chen and other ranking Taiwanese officials. This is Kim's sixth visit to the Southeast Asian nation.
Meanwhile, Kim expressed his regret after belatedly receiving a New Year's card from the late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Jan 14.
Bhutto, who was killed in a suicide bomb attack in December, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, signed the New Year card with a message wishing world peace and happiness to Kim's family.
Kim and Bhutto first met in 1996 in Seoul. Bhutto, who was in exile at that time, visited Korea again in 2001.