President Tsai meets Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kitlang Kabua
On the morning of April 13, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kitlang Kabua of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In remarks, President Tsai said that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands have deepened collaboration and achieved many fruitful results in such areas as healthcare, agriculture, and education. She thanked the government of the Marshall Islands for supporting Taiwan's international participation and expressed her hope that the two countries will continue to support each other on the international stage, strengthen the resilience of global democracy, and make greater contributions to the Indo-Pacific region.
A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows:
Welcome to the Presidential Office. This is Minister Kabua's first visit to Taiwan since taking office. Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is subsiding, I am pleased that you are here so that we can further our cooperation and exchange.
In recent years, Taiwan and the Marshall Islands have deepened collaboration and achieved many fruitful results in such areas as healthcare, agriculture, and education. During President David Kabua's state visit to Taiwan in March last year, we announced the establishment of the Taiwan-Marshall Islands Adaptation and Contingency Fund for Climate Change. During your visit, we will witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding relating to that fund, which will help our two nations continue to strive for sustainable development.
As for agriculture, a Taiwan technical mission and the government of the Marshall Islands established a community farm in Ebeye – Minister Kabua's hometown – last May. This will spur the development of the local farming sector.
We know that Minister Kabua attaches great importance to public education. I am delighted that Taiwan is one of the most popular places for Marshallese students to study abroad. This year, 12 students from the Marshall Islands have been awarded Taiwan Scholarships, an increase of four over last year. I believe this will further bolster bilateral exchanges and engagement.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Minister Kabua and the Marshallese government for their continued support of Taiwan's international participation. They have spoken up for Taiwan at many international occasions, including at the United Nations General Assembly and the World Health Assembly. This has successfully attracted international attention to our cause.
We look forward to Taiwan and the Marshall Islands continuing to support each other on the international stage. Together, we will strengthen the resilience of global democracy, and make greater contributions to the Indo-Pacific region.
Minister Kabua then delivered remarks, first extending warm greetings from the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the people and government of Taiwan. The minister said that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is an important friend and ally of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and that our leaders forged this relationship on shared values, on democratic principles, and on respect for human rights. She said that she and her people are proud of the achievements our countries have made together as we celebrate 25 years of diplomatic ties and partnership, a relationship that has evolved and grown stronger since we tied the knot of friendship in 1998.
This visit, Minister Kabua pointed out, signifies the strong relationship that our two countries share and the sincere desire to further strengthen this relationship both in bilateral and international fora. The minister stated that, in line with this, she wishes to assure Taiwan that the Republic of the Marshall Islands will remain a staunch ally and continue to give voice and support for Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations and all other regional and international organizations.
Minister Kabua expressed her admiration of President Tsai for her steadfast leadership in preserving democratic values in the face of external intimidation, adding that the Marshall Islands strongly condemns these actions, given that they compromise regional and global security and peace.
In closing, Minister Kabua said that she and her delegation are very delighted to be here in Taiwan and look forward to the planned activities and programs during this visit that will pave the way to further enhancing this relationship between our two nations. She once again acknowledged President Tsai for inviting her, along with her delegation, on her first official visit to Taiwan.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Anjanette Celles Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.