President Ma Ying-jeou began the second day of his itinerary in the Solomon Islands at 9 a.m. local time on March 25 (6:00 a.m. Taipei time). Besides decorating Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua and participating in a ceremony to inaugurate a demonstration solar power system at the Office of the Prime Minister, President Ma went to the National Parliament where he delivered an address. In the afternoon, President Ma and his delegation went to visit the Taiwan Health Center. In addition, they were treated to a luncheon by Prime Minister Sikua. The delegation also visited the TaiwanICDF Technical Mission in the Solomon Islands, providing encouragement to all of the staffers. In the evening, President Ma hosted a banquet on an ROC naval vessel that is part of a friendship fleet that is currently making a call in the Solomon Islands. The dinner was to thank the Solomon Islands government for its warm reception and display of friendship toward President Ma, his delegation, and the crew aboard the visiting ships.
In the morning, President Ma was escorted by Secretary General to the Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to the Cabinet meeting room in the Office of the Prime Minister. The president then decorated Prime Minister Sikua with the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon. After the conclusion of this ceremony, President Ma and Prime Minister Sikua jointly presided over a ceremony unveiling a model solar power generation system for the Prime Minister's office. This symbolized that cooperation between the two nations in conserving energy and reducing carbon emissions is moving forward.
In his address at the National Parliament, President Ma said that the Solomon Islands has continually provided resolute assistance to the ROC in trying to secure room for itself in the international community. The president said he wanted to specially express his deepest gratitude to the Solomon Islands for its unwavering friendship.
The president expressed three hopes with regards to future aid work in the Pacific region. First, he said the ROC is wholeheartedly willing to share its development experience, especially the intangible knowledge and skills it has accumulated in the course of development with its allies. While tangible materials will ultimately one day be depleted, he said, know-how can create unlimited possibilities. Second, the president mentioned that the cooperation projects designed by the ROC must meet the needs of the host nation. People's livelihood is the first priority of those initiatives, he said. Third, President Ma said that coordinated cooperation is the spirit of Pacific culture. The ROC is willing to embrace the principle of effective cooperation as laid out in the Cairns Compact and work together with partner countries and regional organizations, such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the multilateral Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). He said that all parties should strive to work together in promoting regional development.
National Parliament Speaker Peter Kenilorea, Prime Minister Sikua, government officials and members of parliament all were present for President Ma's address to parliament.
In his speech, President Ma noted that climate change is one of the key topics of attention among countries throughout the world. As one of the most important allies of the Solomon Islands, the ROC, he said, is concerned about the impact of climate change on the environment of its allies. The president said that the ROC intends to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions at home while at the same time cooperating with other countries to help them adapt to the changing situation.
The president also presented a commemorative plaque to Speaker Kenilorea, who is known as the nation's founding father, to recognize the ROC's financial assistance in the building of a new parliament building. This plaque will be installed in the future at the entry to the building, serving as a permanent reminder of the friendship and alliance between the two countries, he said.
After the conclusion of the address, President Ma and his delegation were accompanied by Solomon Islands Health Minister Clay Forau and Central Hospital Director Douglas Eteto visit the Taiwan Health Center. The ROC's Minister of Health Yaung Chih-liang then donated an array of pharmaceuticals and medical items to the Central Hospital, which Health Minister Forau accepted on behalf of the hospital.
In the afternoon, President Ma and his delegation visited the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Solomon Islands. The nation's Agriculture Minister Selwyn Riumana and the leader of the mission, Mr. David Huang, were on hand to greet President Ma.
In early August last year, southern and eastern Taiwan suffered devastating flooding and landslides from Typhoon Morakot. At the time, Stanley Tabeva, a local chieftain from the Solomon Islands, rode a motorized sampan for 24 hours to deliver a cash donation to help the victims of the disaster. Chieftain Stanley was on hand to meet with President Ma, who upon seeing immediately went over to shake his hand, expressing his immense gratitude.
In the evening, President Ma interacted with the guests attending the banquet on the ship. He also invited them to visit an exhibit on the ship, enabling everyone to understand the development of the ROC's navy.