President Ma Ying-jeou met with Kély Bastien, speaker of the Republic of Haiti's Senate and National Assembly, on the morning of May 21. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), extended a welcome to Speaker Bastien and the members of his delegation.
President Ma commented that Haiti is an important ally of the ROC in the Caribbean. Last year while on a visit to the Dominican Republic he met with Haiti President René Préval. The president remarked that ties between the two countries have traditionally been very close, and the two have longstanding cooperative relationships in the areas of agriculture, engineering and infrastructure. President Ma expressed his hopes that bilateral relations will continue to strengthen.
He furthermore said that he has strived to improve relations with mainland China since taking office, with the primary objective being to reduce tension and promote peace in the Taiwan Strait. He said that this development will in no way impact the friendship and cooperation projects between the ROC and Haiti. The president said we will annually examine the cooperation projects and expand cooperation based on the needs of Haiti and the abilities of the ROC. President Ma also expressed his appreciation to Haiti for speaking on behalf of Taiwan many times in the international community. He said that the increased space we have in the international community, particularly our ability to attend this year's World Health Assembly in Geneva, is in large part due to the consistent support provided by our allies, including Haiti. President Ma asked Speaker Bastien to express his gratitude in this regard to President Préval.
Speaker Bastien thanked President Ma for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with him and his delegation, and expressed his gratitude for the warm reception they have received here. He also thanked the ROC for the development assistance it has provided to Haiti over the years and said he hopes that there will be even more opportunities for cooperation in the future. Speaker Bastien also expressed his admiration for President Ma due to his efforts to promote flexible diplomacy and improve cross-strait relations. This demonstrates the forward-looking nature of President Ma, he said.