President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of April 1 with a delegation led by the Republic of Palau's Senate President Camsek Chin. In addition to extending a welcome to the delegation on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, the president called for continued strengthening of interaction and cooperative relations between the two countries.
In remarks, President Ma stated that this marks the first time that Mr. Chin has led a delegation to Taiwan in his capacity as senate president, although Mr. Chin has visited before as vice president, justice minister, and senator. The president added that Mr. Chin places considerable emphasis on relations between the two countries.
President Ma stated that the two nations have maintained close cooperation since establishing diplomatic relations in 1999, and mentioned cooperation on the Melekeok Project, in which a new capital building was constructed in Palau. This new structure not only became Palau's administrative center, but has also become a new landmark and tourist site, he said. President Ma noted that the ROC has long provided assistance to Palau by promoting agricultural technical cooperation projects and helping farmers in Palau increase their crop output, thereby reducing reliance on imports. In addition, the ROC has also helped install solar power systems on the national hospital and the Ministry of Education building, creating models for future green building design and construction in that nation, he remarked. These initiatives are helping to reduce the volume of Palau's carbon emissions, which he hopes will slow the pace of global warming.
The president stated that Palau has consistently been an active proponent of Taiwan's participation in international organizations, and has urged the international community to support Taiwan's participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). President Ma said that after an absence of 42 years, Taiwan was invited to attend the 38th Assembly of the ICAO in September 2013 as a special guest. He explained that Taiwan is important to aviation, because 14 international flight paths cross Taiwan's air space, and each year local air traffic controllers provide services to 1.3 million international flights. Participation in the ICAO, he said, would make it much easier for Taiwan to obtain flight information. He also mentioned that Palau, for five consecutive years since 2009, has spoken on behalf of Taiwan at the United Nations General Assembly, calling on the international community to accept the right of Taiwan to participate in international organizations.
President Ma commented that climate change has become a major global challenge to the world, and noted that when Palau was hit last November by Typhoon Haiyan, the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan) immediately provided pre-fabricated structures that were assembled before Christmas for the disaster victims. This constituted further proof, he said, that the ROC is a "provider of humanitarian aid" to the international community.
President Ma mentioned that in September of last year at the Pacific Islands Forum, Palau President Tommy Remengesau spoke forcefully about Taiwan's right to participate in the international community. The president asked the visitors to pass along his gratitude to his counterpart for this gesture, adding that he would like to see the partnership between the two countries continue to strengthen.
Also in the delegation were Palau Senate Vice President Philipp P. Reklai and Senators Surangel Whipps, Jr., J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, Rukebai Kikuo Inabo, and Mason N. Whipps.