President Yen Chia-kan received Mrs. March Fong Eu, State Secretary of California, her husband, Henry Eu and members of her diplomatic trade mission at the Presidential Office January 19. They were accompanied by U. S. Ambassador Leonard Unger. The Californians came for a brief visit aimed at promoting the sales of California brandy and grape wine in Taiwan. The group was composed of producers, manufacturers and distributors. During the visit, they held a wine-tasting party in the hope of establishing a sales network and promoting trade between the two countries.
The Chinese Petroleum Corporation announced plans to install a large electric generator at Chingshui in Ilan in the summer of 1977, after the company found major resources of thermal heat from the No.4 well. Digging of the well has been under way since last February. A team is conducting a survey of thermal heat distribution in the Ilan area of Tuchang, Chingshui and Tungshan. According to team members, prospects of thermal power development in the Republic of China are very bright. Premier Chiang Ching-kuo visited the No.3 naphtha cracker plant in the Linyuan petrochemical complex in Kaohsiung County on January 16. He was pleased with the completion of this third cracker. The Chinese Petroleum Corporation completed the construction of the first naphtha cracker in 1968, to supply sufficient raw materials for "downstream industries" in the Republic of China and the second cracker in 1975. Both are on the site of the Corporation's Kaohsiung Refinery. Now the third naphtha plant has joined in production to meet domestic market demands.
Brazilian soccer superstar Pele ("Black Pearl") visited a Chinese youth exhibition match at Taipei Stadium on February 6 and was welcomed by the soccer fans of the Republic of China. Pele arrived for a three-day visit. He and his coach, Professor Julio Mazzei, took part in a soccer clinic for members and coaches of the Republic of China's Football Association, offering his experience of many years to help boost the morale of the sport of soccer in Taiwan.