President Ma Ying-jeou met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Danny Philip and Mrs. Philip at the Presidential Office on the morning of October 12. Besides congratulating Prime Minister Philip on assuming his position in August, the president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, also extended a cordial welcome to him and his delegation on their visit to Taiwan.
President Ma commented that he visited the Solomon Islands in March of this year on a trip to six South Pacific nations. During his stop in the Solomon Islands, he was awarded the Star of the Solomon Islands, delivered an address to that nation's parliament, and toured some cooperative projects being carried out. The president said that his time in the Solomon Islands made a deep impression on him.
The president remarked that the two countries have engaged in broad cooperation in the fields of agriculture, medicine, and technology since establishing diplomatic relations in 1983, and he himself visited a farm 13 years ago in the Solomon Islands created with assistance from the ROC. The rice produced at the farm was already considered very good at that time, he said, adding that this year he saw many green rice paddies on his trip there, making him feel like he was back in Taiwan. The president applauded the efforts and contributions made by the ROC's agricultural mission in the Solomon Islands. He also said that third-phase construction of that nation's Central Hospital, being built with assistance from the ROC, has been completed, and is enabling the Solomon Islands to provide a wider range of medical services. Other cooperative projects in fruit and livestock have also been a success and are ongoing, he said.
President Ma noted that besides cooperation in agriculture and medicine, the two sides are also working together on solar power. The office of the Prime Minister and the national parliament building have both been outfitted with solar equipment, and the ROC and the Solomon Islands have signed an agreement on the Light from Taiwan project, under which solar-powered lamps will be provided to enable children in rural areas to have light for studying in the evening. Success has also been achieved in educational exchange, as exemplified by a member of the delegation—Selwyn Riumana, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock—who graduated from Taiwan's National Pingtung University of Science and Technology.
President Ma stressed that a foreign assistance white paper released by the ROC specially indicates that in implementing foreign aid, Taiwan's policy is to seek proper goals, act lawfully, and exercise effective administration. He said that he reiterated during his National Day address this year that in the future the ROC will act as a peacemaker, a provider of humanitarian aid, a promoter of cultural ties, and a creator of new technologies and business opportunities. He said he hopes that close cooperation with our allies will be carried out based on these objectives.
The president expressed his appreciation to the Solomon Islands for frequently speaking on behalf of the ROC in the international arena and helping the ROC to have the opportunity to have meaningful participation in international organizations and activities. He specially noted the donation of the equivalent of NT$4,000 by tribal chief Stanley Tapeva after Taiwan suffered devastating flooding and landslides in August of last year, adding that the people of Taiwan will never forget the warm gesture.
President Ma told Prime Minister Philip that the ROC and the Solomon Islands have a deep and stable alliance, and that he hopes the prime minister will be open to discussing even more opportunities for cooperation related to his policy plans in the future, thereby further strengthening the alliance between the two nations.
Prime Minister and Mrs. Philip were accompanied to the Presidential Office in the morning by Solomon Islands Ambassador to the ROC Victor S. Ngele to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting were National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen, Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Chin-tien Yang, and ROC Ambassador to the Solomon Islands George Chan.