Your Excellency President Scotty, Honorable Parliament Speaker Dowiyogo, Honorable Foreign Minister Adeng, Honorable Ministers and Parliamentarians, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen: Good morning! Mo joran! Ma reit ed!
It is a great honor for me to lead a delegation to Nauru at the invitation of Your Excellency President Scotty. This official visit is particularly meaningful, as it has been my dream to visit each of Taiwan's diplomatic allies during my term of presidency. By setting foot on this beautiful island today, I have fulfilled my dream of visiting each of our allies in the Pacific.
As the first Taiwanese President to visit Nauru, I feel extremely honored to be invited to deliver a speech before your parliament. For a parliament is the most important of democratic institutions and parliamentarians are the helmsmen of democracy. On behalf of the 23 million people and government of Taiwan, I would like to extend my warm greetings and sincere gratitude to all distinguished members of your parliament as well as to the government and people of the Republic of Nauru.
The Parliament of Nauru is a mature democratic institution that has played an extremely important role over the past 38 years since Nauru became independent in 1968. I myself was a parliamentarian between 1990 and 1994 and, during my two terms in that role, I spoke out for the people and strived for the promotion of democracy.
My dear friend President Scotty was Speaker of Parliament from the late 1990s to 2000. Therefore, on our nations' respective roads to democracy, President Scotty and I have played the parts of reformers and guardians, much like the parliamentarians here today.
While geographically our two countries may seem far from one another, Taiwan's indigenous people and the Nauruan people share the same Austronesian roots. As such, there is a familiarity in our cultures, ancestry, languages, and customs. This is why people from Taiwan feel a certain closeness when meeting people from Nauru and friendships between them are formed so easily.
I have therefore invited two indigenous parliamentarians to join me on this official visit. Please allow me to introduce them: First, Ms. Asunai, representing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the Puyuma tribe. Next, Mr. Komod, representing the People First Party and the Amis tribe. The fact that these two parliamentarians each represent different political parties and tribes demonstrates that Taiwan is a democratic country with diverse cultures and ethnic groups. Even so, in the international arena, we share the same will and one voice.
The past two days have been particularly historic for Taiwan and its Pacific allies. For we have seen leaders and delegations from Taiwan and its six Pacific allies, including President Scotty and his delegation, attend the First Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit in Koror, Palau. After the summit, the leaders of all seven countries signed the "Palau Declaration," in which the four aims of the 2005 Pacific Islands Forum "Pacific Plan" were adopted as its primary goals. These goals are economic growth, sustainable development, good governance, and security, and will be attained through partnerships working for mutual prosperity.
The summit exemplifies Taiwan's willingness to contribute to the international community and work with its diplomatic allies. We aim to fulfill the goals of the "Palau Declaration" in the most efficient manner so as to gradually enhance the capabilities of Taiwan and its Pacific allies. Our seven countries expect to realize democracy, peace, freedom, and human rights, thus becoming models for these universal ideals in the international community of the 21st century.
Taiwan and Nauru are also working closely together. Having signed an agreement promoting cooperation in agricultural technology, Taiwan's agricultural mission to Nauru has established demonstration agricultural, aquacultural and livestock farms which, in the future, will produce various vegetables, fruits, and fish products. Personnel from the mission will also provide instruction to local farmers on a one-to-one basis and I sincerely believe that the people of Nauru will benefit greatly from this.
As a way of reinforcing human resource exchanges with Nauru, Taiwan also offers full scholarships to three Nauruan students every year for university education in Taiwan. Various on-the-job training courses and professional lectures are also provided. There are already a number of Nauruan students studying in Taiwan and we will continue to work on such human resource exchanges in the future. I believe that, on their return to Nauru, these students will be important catalysts in the development of your country.
I would like to take this precious opportunity to extend my gratitude to your government on behalf of the government and the 23 million people of Taiwan for your firm support of Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and other international organizations. I also look forward to your continuing support of Taiwan in the international community in the future.
The greatness of a country does not lie in its dimensions or population size, but rather in the strength of the minds of its people. Taiwan and Nauru are both small countries, yet our peoples have unlimited power. The future of our two countries is thus full of hope and opportunity.
Once again, I would like to extend my gratitude to Your Excellency President Scotty, Honorable Parliament Speaker Dowiyogo and Honorable Foreign Minister Adeng. I also wish prosperity upon your country and health and happiness to President Scotty, Parliament Speaker Dowiyogo, Foreign Minister Adeng, Ministers and Parliamentarians, and the people of Nauru. Thank you! Tubwa!