President Ma Ying-jeou and Vice President Vincent C. Siew on the morning of May 23 at the Presidential Office met with All-Party Parliamentary British-Taiwan Group Co-Chairman and Member of Parliament Nicholas Winterton and members of a delegation led by Mr. Winterton. President Ma, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), expressed his gratitude to the guests for making the long journey to Taiwan to attend the inauguration of the president and vice president.
President Ma said the ROC (Taiwan) and England have consistently maintained strong interaction in the areas of investment and trade, as well as education and culture. The president said he visited England in February 2006 to meet with friends and also deliver a speech at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) focusing on his views on policy regarding mainland China. The president said that his policy standpoints remain exactly the same to this day. President Ma noted that MP Winterton on April 28 of this year proposed a motion for Parliament to support observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Assembly and the World Health Organization (WHO). The president said he deeply appreciates the efforts made by MP Winterton, adding that he hopes that MP Winterton will have the opportunity to meet with a range of people from various sectors on this trip to Taiwan, enabling him to better understand the status of Taiwan's development.
MP Winterton, on behalf of the members of his delegation, expressed congratulations to President Ma and Vice President Siew on their inauguration, adding that the festive atmosphere of the event made a deep impression on him. MP Winterton said the All-Party Parliamentary British-Taiwan Group previously urged the British government and other countries throughout the world to support participation for Taiwan in the WHO. He said this would enable Taiwan to play an ever more active and important role in helping to improve global-based medical research and disease prevention. He said the All-Party Parliamentary British-Taiwan Group in the future will continue to support Taiwan's participation in international affairs.
Members of the British delegation in Taiwan to participate in the inauguration celebration include The Lord Faulkner of Worcester, The Lord Dholakia, The Baroness Knight of Collingtree, and members of Parliament Andrew Rosindell, Ann Winterton, and Robert Spink. Accompanying the delegation to the Presidential Office to meet with President Ma and Vice President Siew was British Trade and Cultural Office Director General Michael Reilly. Also in attendance was Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco H. L. Ou.