President Ma Ying-jeou and Vice President Vincent C. Siew on the afternoon of May 21 at the Presidential Office met with Tuvalu Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia and Mrs. Ielemia, and a short while later with Belize Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow and Mrs. Barrow. President Ma offered a warm welcome to the visitors, who are in Taiwan taking part in the inauguration ceremonies for the twelfth-term president and vice president of the ROC (Taiwan).
The president first exchanged greetings with the visitors attending his and Vice President Siew's inauguration proceedings, and then expressed his appreciation to them.
The itinerary associated with the state dinner held in Kaohsiung on May 20 to mark the inauguration was somewhat different than in the past. President Ma explained that organizers of the event here decided to utilize mass transit, such as the high speed railway, the Kaohsiung mass rapid transit system and buses instead of the traditional means of employing limousines to transport guests and dignitaries. The main reason for this decision was to express Taiwan's commitment to conserving energy and to reducing carbon emissions, hoping to reduce the greenhouse effect. President Ma said he hopes that the arrangements and the activities were to the satisfaction of the guests.
President Ma expressed his appreciation for the long-term support provided by Tuvalu and Belize in helping Taiwan participate in the international community and international organizations. President Ma said that the ROC (Taiwan) faces difficulties in securing room for itself in the international community. He said that support from friends and allies is vital and is something that Taiwan cherishes. President Ma pledged that there will be no changes to existing cooperation projects carried out between Taiwan and its allies. He said he hopes that in the future, cooperation projects between Taiwan and Tuvalu, and Taiwan and Belize will be expanded to more areas, such as education. This would further promote cooperative and friendly bilateral ties, he said.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Ielemia thanked President Ma for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with him. He also praised the inauguration address made by the president. In addition, Prime Minister Ielemia also expressed his appreciation to the ROC (Taiwan) for consistently providing all types of assistance to Tuvalu. He pledged that in the future, Tuvalu will continue to support Taiwan's entry to the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other international agencies.
Belize Prime Minister Barrow expressed his gratitude to Taiwan for the warm reception he has received. He praised the inauguration address made by President Ma on May 20, saying that it was especially insightful with regards to cross-strait relations and regional security.
Prime Minister Ielemia and Prime Minister Barrow were accompanied to the Presidential Office late in the afternoon by Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco H. L. Ou to meet with President Ma and Vice President Siew.