President Ma Ying-jeou on the afternoon of May 21 met with a delegation of Canadian Members of Parliament, including MP Barry Devolin, MP Daryl Kramp and MP Dave Van Kesteren at the Presidential Office. The delegation is visiting Taiwan to participate in the inauguration ceremonies of the twelfth-term president and vice president of the ROC (Taiwan). On behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), President Ma extended a warm welcome and gratitude to the visitors.
President Ma said that Canada is home to many ethnic Chinese, 80,000 of whom have moved to Canada from Taiwan. He said there are a number of areas in which bilateral cooperation and exchanges could be strengthened. He said that one of the most important contributions that Canada has made to Taiwan is the doctorate degree bestowed on Premier Liu Chao-shiuan by the University of Toronto. Mrs. Liu also graduated from the same university.
President Ma said that Taiwan and Canada maintain a variety of cultural and educational exchanges, with the most noteworthy being the Terry Fox Run. The run is in commemoration of Canada's Terry Fox, who many years ago had to have his right leg amputated due to cancer and then ran from one Canadian coast to the other with one prosthetic leg, covering 5,000 kilometers. After his death, his mother and relatives formed the Terry Fox Foundation. The foundation has promoted runs throughout the globe. Taipei is one of the 600 cities worldwide taking part in this activity, and the number of people participating in it here ranks among the Top 10 in the world. The funds raised in the course of the event are used entirely for cancer research, and cooperation is held with Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.
President Ma furthermore said that for over 10 years he has served as the director of the organizing committee of the Terry Fox Charity Run. This year marks the 12th year he is serving in this capacity. He added that he has personally visited the Toronto headquarters of the foundation. As Taiwan frequently sends representatives to participate in the charity runs throughout the world, it maintains many contacts with the Terry Fox Foundation.
President Ma said that presently 15,000 Taiwan students are studying in Canada. He also pointed out that a number of Canadian students study here. He said that cooperation in the area of education exchanges is one area in which interaction could be strengthened.
The Canadian delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office in the afternoon by Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco H. L. Ou. Also in attendance was National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi.