Your Excellency President Tommy Remengesau of the Republic of Palau and Madam Remengesau; the Distinguished Delegation from Palau; Esteemed Colleagues; Your Excellencies the Envoys to Taiwan; Honored Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good Morning!
It is my great honor and pleasure to be here today in the Presidential Office to welcome with a grand military ceremony His Excellency President Tommy Remengesau, Madam Remengesau, and their entourage from the Republic of Palau. President Remengesau is the first head of state from our diplomatic allies to visit our nation in 2007. On behalf of the government and the 23 million people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I would like to extend my sincerest welcome to the distinguished delegation from Palau.
President Remengesau visited Taiwan in 2000, 2002, and 2004. For my part, after President Remengesau was re-elected to a second term, I led a delegation to attend His Excellency's inauguration in January 2005. In September of last year, I visited Palau again to participate in the First Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit, which, with the extensive assistance of host country Palau and of President Remengesau, proceeded smoothly and was a great success. The presidents of Palau and Taiwan have paid frequent visits to each other's country over the past six years, and President and Madam Remengesau's visit to Taiwan today once again testifies to the warm friendship between the peoples of Palau and Taiwan and the stalwart relationship enjoyed by our two nations.
I still remember the fishing competition organized by the Palauan government on the last day of the Palau Summit for all participating heads of state. I was lucky enough to be placed on the same team with President Remengesau, an accomplished fisherman, for the competition. We won first prize, and I believe that the credit for our success should mostly go to President Remengesau. The fishing competition helped me to realize that Taiwan and Palau are also like friends in a boat, whose best chance of success comes through helping one another, and brought to mind the truth of the saying that there is strength in unity.
This year will mark the eighth year since Palau and Taiwan established diplomatic relations. Since then, both sides have worked closely together and built a cordial relationship. Taiwan and Palau are both oceanic countries whose people honor and pursue the universal values of democracy, freedom, peace, and human rights. Since the establishment of official ties, the governments and private sector in Palau and Taiwan have worked hand in hand to implement numerous infrastructure projects beneficial to national development and public welfare. In addition, our cooperative projects in agriculture and fisheries have also born fruit over these years. Through these achievements, Taiwan and Palau have created a model for how democratic countries in and around the Pacific may forge a mutually beneficial cooperative partnership.
President Remengesau and the Palauan government are Taiwan's faithful friends in the international community. His Excellency and Palauan government officials have often spoken for Taiwan on international occasions. It is our great good fortune to have such a friend as President Remengesau, and, on behalf of Taiwan's government and people, I would like to take this opportunity to once again express our sincerest respect and gratitude to His Excellency.
Again I would like to welcome President and Madam Remengesau, and I wish you and your entourage a successful and enjoyable stay here in Taiwan. In closing, I would like to wish President and Madam Remengesau health and happiness, the Republic of Palau great prosperity, and Taiwan and Palau everlasting friendship. Thank you.