Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Ma Ying-jeou on the evening of January 18 met with Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Benigno R. Fitial and Mrs. Fitial at the Presidential Office. The president welcomed the visitors to Taiwan to explore the possibility of expanded bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation. He also expressed his desire for strengthened ties in education, culture, and tourism.

The president remarked that Governor Fitial is the ninth American gubernatorial-level official with whom he has met since taking office in 2008. This demonstrates that his administration’s policy of flexible diplomacy has brought progress in relations with the United States, which he is extremely pleased to see.

President Ma further noted that Taiwan and the CNMI maintain close ties, pointing out that bilateral trade in 2009 came to US$3.6 million, while trade in the first seven months of last year already hit US$3 million, providing evidence of a rapid economic recovery. Meanwhile, indigenous peoples in the CNMI and Taiwan share an Austronesian cultural and linguistic background. The government supports stronger bilateral ties and encourages students from Taiwan to take language courses in the CNMI capital city of Saipan or participate in exchange student programs. Also, the president stated that ROC nationals have been able to enter Guam and the CNMI visa-free since the implementation of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program on November 28, 2009. Taiwanese can stay in these places for up to 45 days, which makes it easier to visit the Northern Marianas for tourism.

The president also said that Taiwan is seeking to participate in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Civil Aviation Organization. He expressed his hope that the CNMI will continue to support Taiwan in this endeavor and added that he looks forward to progress in the near future on enhanced trade and economic relations with the United States and entry into the US Visa Waiver Program.

Governor and Mrs. Fitial and former Governor of Guam Joseph F. Ada were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Deputy Foreign Minister Lyushun Shen to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Chih-kung Liu.