Remarks at the Inauguration Ceremony
of the Ching Fu Group Headquarters
Chen Shui-bian
President
Republic of China (Taiwan)
December 25, 2007
Your Excellency President Remengesau of the Republic of Palau and Madam Remengesau, Your Excellency President Tong of the Republic of Kiribati, Your Excellency Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia of Tuvalu and Madam Ielemia, Vice President Lu, Ching Fu CEO Dr. Chen, Your Excellencies Envoys to Taiwan, Esteemed Colleagues, Distinguished Guests:
Greetings to all of you, and Merry Christmas!
History is in the making on this auspicious day. It is a great honor to be attending the inauguration ceremony of the Ching Fu Group Headquarters with three leaders from our Pacific allies this Christmas. I would like to point out that today's event marks "five historical firsts." They are as follows: First, this is the first time in my seven-and-a-half-year presidency that I have had the privilege of attending the inauguration ceremony of the headquarters of a Taiwanese company together with leaders from our allies. Second, this is the first time that the people of Taiwan have been able to celebrate Christmas with three leaders of our Pacific allies.
Third, this is the first time that Taiwan's maritime capital Kaohsiung has welcomed so many leaders from our allies. Fourth, this is my first meeting with so many leaders from our allies in the city of my future home, Kaohsiung. And the fifth "first," which is also the reason we have been able to bring about the other four, is that the Ching Fu Group has been setting a first-rate example not only in blue ocean strategy, but also in entrepreneurial and sustainable diplomacy.
During the Second Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit in the Marshall Islands on October 12 this year, the participating leaders agreed that the third summit would be held in 2008 in Kaohsiung. Little did we know back then that, just over two months later, Ching Fu CEO Dr. Chen and his staff would organize this grand event that has reunited us at Christmas time. I think we can call this the Second-and-a-Half Summit! I would like to extend my best wishes and sincerest appreciation to the Ching Fu Group, and express a very warm welcome to the leaders of our Pacific allies.
Ching Fu is Taiwan's largest private shipbuilder, manufacturing a variety of high-quality vessels. Moreover, through its major investment projects and personnel training programs, Ching Fu has established close ties with our Pacific allies, which have become a vital part of Taiwan's relations with these countries.
Ching Fu has invested US$20 million in the construction of a floating dry dock in the Marshall Islands, which will begin providing repair services, from the middle of next year, for ships operating in the North Pacific. Not only will the dock significantly enhance the safety of ships in the region, but it will also create hundreds of jobs for citizens of the Marshall Islands.
In order to boost Kiribati's marine transportation and fishing industry, Ching Fu now offers a free specialist training program in Taiwan for trainees from Kiribati. And in September this year, the government of Tuvalu designated Ching Fu Vice General Manager John Chen, the son of Ching Fu CEO Chen, as Tuvalu's Honorary Consul-General in Taiwan, with a view to strengthening cooperation in fishery between Taiwan and Tuvalu.
Over the past three years, I have visited our Pacific allies four times. CEO Chen was a delegate on three of these trips. Whenever Taiwan has received guests from Pacific countries, Ching Fu Shipbuilding has always been ready to assist the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in its efforts toward expanding our diplomatic ties, by arranging a visit to the shipyard.
It is in light of the above that MOFA conferred a diplomatic medal on CEO Chen at the end of last year to honor the outstanding contributions Ching Fu has made to Taiwan's diplomacy.
Out of gratitude to Ching Fu for its friendship and its dedication to diplomacy, the leaders of our Pacific allies and myself were happy to accept the invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony of the company's headquarters. Indeed, leaders from our Pacific allies have traveled thousands of miles to be present at this auspicious occasion.
Now, each one of us can see for ourselves how well the building of the Ching Fu Group Headquarters unites architectural aesthetics, environmental friendliness, the charms of an ocean city, and the wisdom of humanity. We believe that, with the blessings of the leaders and peoples of our four oceanic nations, Ching Fu is set to attain new heights in its accomplishments, and provide the impulse for Kaohsiung to set sail on an ocean of boundless opportunities.
In closing, I once again extend our best wishes to CEO Chen and all the staff at Ching Fu. I wish the Ching Fu Group continued success, and CEO Chen's family and all distinguished guests health and happiness. Once again, Merry Christmas! Thank you.