It is a great honor for me, and the members of my delegation, to be extended such extraordinary hospitality by His Excellency President and Madame Tong. On behalf of the government and 23 million people of Taiwan, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to President and Madame Tong, and to all our good friends here in Kiribati.
To experience the true beauty of Kiribati, one has to see it with one's own eyes. Kiribati has a natural, enchanting and unforgettable beauty. Today, I asked one of our nationals, who have been stationed here for quite some time on alternative military service, what was the most moving experience he had during his time in Kiribati. He replied: "Everything here is special and moving in its own way. Every day, there is a new story unfolding and each story is an inspiration in itself."
He went on to describe how he had travelled to outlying islands to assist local people with their farming. He told me he used to hold the farmers' hands in his own, going from one household to the next, and conducting classes on planting and horticultural techniques. When it came time for his departure, the local people chocked back tears and could not bear to let him leave, telling him that they had never felt this way before, not even when one of their Kiribati friends leaves.
This sense of working "hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart to create win-win situations" reflects the strong bond between Kiribati and Taiwan. As I mentioned in my remarks at the House of Assembly this afternoon, the Kiribati-Taiwan partnership is built on a solid foundation with four pillars: maritime partnership, sunlight and vitality, humanitarian spirit, and democratic community.
Maritime culture nurtured an optimistic spirit that both our respective peoples possess; sunlight has given us dynamic energy; a humanitarian spirit connects the cooperative hearts and souls of our peoples; and democracy and freedom are universal values that drive our two peoples forward.
Although the Kiribati-Taiwan relationship does not have a long history, we are already as close as age-old friends. We have engaged in close and constructive cooperation by promoting mutual visits of high-ranking officials, cooperation in agricultural and fisheries, educational and cultural exchanges, humanitarian and medical assistance, and the enhancement of basic infrastructure in Kiribati.
I would like to especially extend my gratitude to His Excellency President Tong for his firm friendship for Taiwan. Our two countries established diplomatic ties in November 2003 and, shortly thereafter, in February of the following year, President and Madame Tong visited Taiwan. Today, I am standing here as the first president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to ever visit Kiribati. These events symbolize the opening of the door to friendship, ushering in a new era for the beginning of bilateral relations between our countries.
Actually, President Tong and I are like brothers as we are about the same age. And there are four striking similarities in our backgrounds and political careers. First of all, in 1982 when President Tong was only 30 years old, he visited Taiwan as Kiribati's Vice Minister of Natural Resources. At that time, I had just been elected as a member of the Taipei City Council with the highest number of votes. Even though we did not know each other at that time, we both had, at a young age, made a good dash in our respective political careers.
Second, in 1994, President Tong was elected as a member of the House of Assembly and became Minister of Natural Resources, while, in the same year, I became the first Mayor of Taipei City by popular vote. At the time, we have both achieved advancement in our respective careers, having both undergone the rigor of even more democratic initiation. Although I subsequently took the lead by being elected as president of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in 2000, President Tong spared no time in catching up, becoming president of Kiribati in 2003.
Third, President Tong and I both started out as members of opposition parties, in addition to which, we both also chose a female partner to be vice president. This shows that we share a similar vision, both respect women, and both entrust women with great responsibilities.
Fourth, like President Tong, I became a grandfather at a young age. On this, however, I have to admit defeat, because, while President Tong already has three grandchildren, at present I only have two. Actually, I was defeated at the starting post, because I only have two children and President Tong has eight, so we are not exactly on a level-playing field. Having said this, my son is getting married in June this year, so I may gain the upper hand again in the near future.
These various coincidences and similarities of our pasts are what have brought President Tong and I together upon the establishment of official ties between our two countries. They have also made us cherish our friendship even more, because we both wish that we have had a chance to meet much earlier than we did.
I believe that the aspirations and expectations of both our peoples, and the trust that they have placed in President Tong and myself with the ballots of democracy, are substantial responsibilities for us to shoulder. The life, freedom, and property of our peoples, as well as the sovereignty, security, and development of our countries are, therefore, top priorities for both of us. In addition to bettering the lives of our peoples, what is even more important is that we seek to forge a greater sense of dignity and pride, and a stronger solidarity in our respective countries.
On behalf of the government and 23 million people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I would like to express my most sincere appreciation to President Tong, as well as the government and House of Assembly of Kiribati, for supporting Taiwan's efforts to participate in the United Nations, World Health Organization, and other international organizations.
In particular, I would like to thank President Tong for writing to me to lend Taiwan his staunch support after the PRC unilaterally changed the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by passing the so-called "Anti-Separation Law" on March 14. I would like to reiterate that my country is committed to playing an active and constructive role in the development process in Kiribati.
In closing, Your Excellency and Madame Tong, I would now like to once again express my appreciation for your wonderful hospitality. Now, I would like to invite all distinguished guests to join me in a toast to wish His Excellency President and Madame Tong the best of health; the Republic of Kiribati abundant prosperity; and Kiribati and Taiwan an everlasting friendship. Thank you. [END]