President Ma Ying-jeou on the evening of October 10 at the Taipei Guest House met respectively with Republic of Kiribati Parliament Speaker Mr. Taomati Iuta and Mrs. Iuta; St. Christopher and Nevis National Assembly Speaker Mr. Curtis A. Martin; and Republic of The Gambia National Assembly Speaker Ms. Fatoumata J. Ceesay. In addition to extending the guests a warm welcome on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China, President Ma thanked the visitors for coming to Taiwan to attend the ROC's National Day celebrations.
When meeting with Republic of Kiribati Parliament Speaker Iuta, President Ma commented that Kiribati is situated in the South Pacific and has abundant fishing resources. If the ROC is able to share with Kiribati its experience and business model in terms of ocean fishing, he is confident that this would not only assist Kiribati in developing its fisheries industry, but also in promoting the economy of Kiribati, the president said.
During his meeting with St. Christopher and Nevis National Assembly Speaker Martin, the president said that since the new administration took office here, it has worked aggressively to improve economic relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. In addition to working to strengthen substantive and cooperative relations with its diplomatic allies, President Ma said Taiwan's objective is to expand room for the ROC's economic sustainability. The president said that St. Christopher and Nevis is a staunch friend and ally of Taiwan. In the future, he said, he will do his utmost to promote cooperation between the two countries, enabling the bilateral friendship to become even stronger.
President Ma also met with Republic of The Gambia National Assembly Speaker Ceesay. The president told her that the Republic of The Gambia has long been one of Taiwan's most important friends and allies in Africa. In recent years in particular, he said, The Gambia President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh has made every effort possible to promote and support meaningful participation for Taiwan in international organizations. President Ma said President Jammeh has frequently spoken on behalf of Taiwan in the international arena, for which the people and government of the ROC are extremely appreciative.
President Ma said The Gambia Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy attended his inauguration as president on May 20. During his visit here, he and Vice President Njie-Saidy exchanged opinions on a wide range of cooperative issues. The president said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is presently working on the various cooperative matters, adding that he is confident that new cooperative projects will soon be introduced. This will without a doubt mark a new page in relations between the two countries, he said.
The guests expressed that this is the first National Day in the ROC since President Ma was inaugurated and therefore it is especially meaningful. They said they are extremely honored to have been invited to attend the ceremonies. The visitors also expressed their desire to see even closer cooperation between the ROC and their respective nations. In addition, they reiterated that in the future they will continue to make every effort to speak on behalf of Taiwan in support of meaningful participation for Taiwan in international organizations.