President Ma Ying-jeou met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua at the Presidential Office on the morning of May 12. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), extended a cordial welcome and appreciation to Prime Minister Sikua for making this special trip to Taiwan and for personally attending his inauguration on May 20 last year.
The president remarked that the stable alliance between the ROC and the Solomon Islands dates back many years. The two countries engage in a variety of cooperation projects in the areas of medicine, agriculture, education and fishing. The Solomon Islands, the president said, is a key ally of the ROC in the South Pacific and the ROC deeply cherishes this friendship.
President Ma commented that the third-stage construction of the Central Hospital in the Solomon Islands was completed with assistance from the ROC. The expansion of the facility is making it possible to provide high quality medical services to the people of that country, he said. In addition, achievements have been made in the growing of rice there. This demonstrates the benefits of cooperation between the two countries, he said, adding that this is also helping to strengthen the relationship.
The president said that he visited the Solomon Islands in August 1997 in his capacity as a professor. At the time, he invited justices from the Supreme Court of the Solomon Islands to come to Taiwan to attend the annual conference of the Taiwan Law Society. He said that while he spent only one day in the Solomon Islands, the many vestiges of World War II and the warmth and kindness of the people there left a deep impression on him.
President Ma said he hopes that this visit by Prime Minister Sikua will help to further strengthen the friendship between the two countries and add even greater depth to the bilateral relationship.
Prime Minister Sikua expressed his appreciation to President Ma for taking time out of his schedule to meet with him and for the warm reception he has received. He extended greetings and best wishes to the government and people of the ROC on behalf of the government and people of the Solomon Islands.
The prime minister said the alliance between the two countries over the past 25 years has been based on mutual benefit and friendship, and the Solomon Islands treasures the relationship it has with the ROC. He reiterated that the Solomon Islands will continue to maintain and broaden the bilateral relationship, and that the two countries will continue to share the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Prime Minister Sikua also praised President Ma for his efforts to promote flexible diplomacy and improve cross-strait relations. This will lead to peace and prosperity not just for Taiwan, but also for the Asia-Pacific region as a whole, he said. The prime minister also congratulated the ROC on being able to send a delegation to attend this year's World Health Assembly later this month. This welcome result is the product of many years of efforts by the ROC government, its people, and its friends and allies, he said.