President Ma Ying-jeou met with President of the Republic of The Gambia Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh at the Presidential Office on the morning of April 21. President Ma welcomed President Jammeh and his delegation to Taiwan on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan).
President Ma noted that bilateral ties between Taiwan and The Gambia have consistently strengthened since the resumption of formal diplomatic relations in 1995. This marks the eighth visit to Taiwan since President Jammeh assumed office in 1996, signifying the close state of relations between the two countries, he said.
The president commented that while the majority of the world's nations are facing an economic recession or contraction in growth due to the global financial tsunami and economic downturn, the Republic of The Gambia is among a handful of nations that are bucking the trend. According to forecasts made by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a division of Britain's The Economist magazine, The Gambia's economic growth this year should reach an impressive 6.5%. In its assessment, the EIU mentioned that The Gambia has implemented stable but expansionary economic policies. As a result, The Gambia will enjoy high economic growth, while inflation will remain under control and within an acceptable level. President Ma said the ROC (Taiwan) is proud to serve as a cooperative partner to The Gambia in the process of its development.
At the request of the ROC (Taiwan), The Gambia at the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in September of last year urged the UN to heed the rights of the 23 million people of Taiwan to engage in meaningful participation in UN-affiliated organizations and activities. President Ma expressed his appreciation to President Jammeh and The Gambia in this regard, adding that he is pleased by the strong friendship between the two nations. He said that the ROC (Taiwan) is willing to continue to engage in cooperation with The Gambia, aid in the development of its economy, and boost the standard of living for its people.
President Ma praised the bold vision of President Jammeh, noting that the wide margins by which he has won the presidency twice indicate his popularity among the people. The Gambia also excels in the area of athletics, he said, pointing to that nation's winning of the African Under-17 Football Championship. This could be related to President Jammeh's passionate interest in football, he said. President Ma also said that if the opportunity presents itself in the future, perhaps President Jammeh could take to the field to share his interest in football with Taiwan.
President Jammeh expressed his appreciation to the government of the ROC (Taiwan) for the warm reception it has provided during his visit and for the various forms of assistance offered to The Gambia in its social development.