President Ma Ying-jeou met with Republic of Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau and Mrs. Remengesau at the Presidential Office on the morning of May 21. Vice President Vincent C. Siew also attended the meeting. On behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), President Ma expressed a warm welcome to President Remengesau and thanked him for taking part in the presidential and vice presidential inauguration celebrations here.
President Ma said that Taiwan and the Republic of Palau have long-standing diplomatic ties and cooperative relations. The president noted that President Remengesau was the first overseas president to send him a congratulatory message upon winning the presidential election, adding that he deeply appreciated the gesture.
President Ma said that President Remengesau is a hero in the environmental protection movement. Time magazine of the United States once published a report detailing President Remengesau's broad efforts in engaging in environmental protection work. One of President Remengesau's initiatives has been the Micronesia Challenge, which aims at conserving the ecosystems of a certain percentage of near shore coastal waters and dry land within a specified time period. This is quite an ambitious project, President Ma said, adding that this is why the magazine referred to him as a hero in the environmental protection movement.
President Ma added that President Remengesau and the government of Palau have made every effort possible in helping the ROC (Taiwan) to participate in international organizations. He said he will always remember this, adding that President Remengesau is not only an old friend, but rather a loyal old friend.
President Ma noted that this is hardly the first visit to Taiwan by President Remengesau. In addition to expressing his hopes that President Remengesau have an enjoyable trip here, President Ma said he hopes to be able to make a state visit to Palau. The president said he has friends who recently visited Palau and raved about the beauty of the country after going diving. President Ma said he hopes to have an opportunity to experience this.
President and Mrs. Remengesau were accompanied in the morning to the Presidential Office by Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco H. L. Ou to meet with President Ma.