President Ma Ying-jeou and Vice President Vincent C. Siew on the morning of May 22 met with Sao Tome and Principe President Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes at the Presidential Office. President Menezes has led a delegation from his nation to attend the inauguration of the twelfth-term president and vice president. President Ma, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), extended a warm welcome to President Menezes.
President Ma noted that this is the seventh visit to Taiwan by President Menezes, which demonstrates the close exchanges at the highest level of government by the two countries and the strong alliance between them. President Ma stressed that the cooperation projects presently being carried by the two countries will continue, adding that if necessary, cooperation in certain areas could even be strengthened. President Ma also expressed his appreciation to President Menezes for his support for Taiwan's participation in the international community. He said he hopes Sao Tome and Principe will continue to support Taiwan and speak on its behalf in the international arena.
President Menezes first extended his congratulations on behalf of the government and people of his nation to President Ma and Vice President Siew on their inauguration. He also praised President Ma's inauguration address, saying that the central ideas in the speech were clearly expressed. President Menezes noted that the two nations established diplomatic relations in 1997 and over the past decade Taiwan has provided Sao Tome and Principe with a wide range of assistance. He said the cooperation that has had the most far-reaching impact on the people of his nation has been with regards to malaria eradication. He expressed his deepest appreciation to the assistance that the ROC (Taiwan) has provided his country.
President Ma responded by saying that the ROC (Taiwan) is very pleased to share its resources with and provide assistance to friends and allies. He noted that Taiwan in the past was once a recipient of foreign aid, and this assistance set the groundwork for Taiwan to become what it is today. He said Taiwan will continue to repay the international community in the future, hoping to share its experience with its friends and allies.
President Menezes was accompanied to the Presidential Office in the morning by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrew Li-Yan Hsia. Also in attendance was National Security Council Secretary-General Su Chi.