During the summer of 2001, Chen flew to Los Angeles, Houston, and New York City, where he met with members of the U.S. Congress. The mayor of Houston presented Chen with a key to the city and gave him cowboy clothing. His trip to New York was a first for a head of state from Taiwan as there was unwritten agreement between the US and China that no head of state from Taiwan would be permitted to visit either New York or Washington, D.C.
during the summer of 2001 chen flew to los angeles houston and new york city where he met with members of the us congress the mayor of houston presented chen with a key to the city and gave him cowboy clothing his trip to new york was a first for a head of state from taiwan as there was unwritten agreement between the us and china that no head of state from taiwan would be permitted to visit either new york or washington dc