Palau, I believe, is a familiar place to many people. The country, popularly known as a "diving paradise" and "an Eden in the ocean," is a favorite destination of Taiwanese tourists. For the past three years, Taiwanese tourists have outnumbered those from any other nation. These figures show that Palau is irresistible to Taiwan's people. I would like to once again recommend to all our people the spectacular natural beauty of Palau, whose sprawling islands lie on the sea like shining pearls. The country is heaven on earth. If you are planning a trip abroad or are a fan of diving, Palau is not to be missed.
President Remengesau, who visited Taiwan in 2000, 2002, and 2004, has been very friendly to and supportive of Taiwan. He is the most youthful and accomplished statesman in Palau. At the age of 28, he became the youngest person ever elected to the Palau National Congress. He also holds the distinction of being the youngest Palauan ever elected to the vice presidency, having won the election for that office in 1992. When sworn in as President of Palau in January 2001, he became the youngest-ever Palauan head of state, while, in 2004, he enjoyed a landslide victory in his re-election bid. The people of Palau have time and again show their approval of President Remengesau's leadership and wisdom by casting their ballots for him.
Members of President Remengesau's delegation include not only the minister of state, traditional chiefs, state governors, and other government officials, but also His Excellency's father, the Honorable Thomas Remengesau, who was Palau's fourth president. It is truly an honor to have both a sitting and a former Palauan head of state in Taiwan for this state visit. Your presence is the strongest possible demonstration of your support for and friendship toward Taiwan. I would like to ask all my fellow citizens here to show us a little of the hospitality for which southern Taiwanese people are known by joining me in a big round of applause for our friends, the delegation from Palau.
President Remengesau is the first head of state from among those of our diplomatic allies to pay a state visit to Taiwan in 2007. He is also the first such head of state to visit Kaohsiung since the mayoral elections at the end of last year, when the citizens of Kaohsiung elected Taiwan's first-ever female mayor of a special municipality.
Kaohsiung, our nation's maritime capital, has bright prospects. For example, it will host the 2009 World Games. Additionally, the now-operational 345-kilometer-long Taiwan High Speed Rail has shortened the travel time from Taipei to Kaohsiung to only 90 minutes and heralded the beginning of Taiwan's transformation into a city-state in which all cities are reachable within a single day. I have been looking to buy a home in Kaohsiung for some time, hoping that I may move here in order to live nearer to my good friends here. It is our great delight to have President Remengesau here to share in our joy and pride in this modern and progressive city.
I hope that I can find a home in Kaohsiung and move to this city as soon as possible so that, when President and Madam Rememgesau visit Kaohsiung next time, they can come to my home here and have tea with me.
President Remengesau has had profound thoughts and taken a systematic approach to implementing Palau's national development programs. Your outstanding leadership, founded on your familiarity with international affairs, contributed greatly to the success of the First Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit in Palau in early September of last year, which left a deep impression on me. What's more, the Micronesian Challenge Initiative you proposed and spearheaded, which commits to conserving immense portions of near-shore marine and forest resources in Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, and Saipan, is a living demonstration of your passion for and moves to protect nature and the ocean. Such commitment is something that national leaders the world over may learn from.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two nations in 1999, bilateral cooperative projects have proceeded smoothly and we have seen fruit borne in the areas such as agriculture, medical care, fisheries, education, culture, tourism, and personnel exchange. The Palau Culture Center, Palau Museum, and other public infrastructure projects that Taiwan has assisted Palau in constructing have been completed and opened for use. Moreover, last October, the construction of Palau's new capitol complex in Melekeok State, which Taiwan also extended assistance for, was completed. The complex is a symbol of the close and cordial relations enjoyed by Palau and Taiwan, and both countries will, based on the existing foundation, continue to work together to narrow the "digital divide" and strengthen cooperation in improving medical care.
Over the years, Palau has been a staunch supporter of Taiwan's efforts to participate in the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the Pacific Islands Forum, and other international organizations. On behalf of the government and 23 million people of Taiwan, I would like to express the highest respect and deepest gratitude to the Palauan government for having the great moral courage to speak out for Taiwan in the international community despite coming under pressure from powerful regimes. Since taking office, President Remengesau has put great emphasis on Taiwan-Palau relations and shown unwavering support for Taiwan. Mr. President, we will always treasure your friendship.
On our flight from Taipei to Kaohsiung this afternoon, President Remengesau told me something for which I feel very grateful. His Excellency told me that he will continue to be committed to upholding the diplomatic relations between our two countries and that such a relationship will never be changed during his presidential term. His Excellency also said that a close and friendship foundation has been laid for the Taiwan-Palau relationship such that no matter who will be elected as the new Palauan leader in the country's 2008 presidential election, he or she will continue to uphold Palau's diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Mr. President, we are very thankful for what you told us.
In closing, I would like to invite everybody to join me in a toast. To the success and health of His Excellency President Remengesau and Madam Remengesau! To the prosperity of Taiwan and Palau! And last, to the everlasting friendship between our countries! Thank you. Mei Sulang!