Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Ma Ying-jeou met with Honduran Minister of Defense Marlon Pascua Cerrato and Mrs. Pascua on the morning of January 20. The president extended a warm welcome on behalf of the government and people of the ROC to the couple on their visit to Taiwan, and expressed his desire to see the bilateral alliance move forward based on the stable foundation that currently exists.

The president remarked that Minister Pascua is a civilian defense minister who comes from the business community. He is a former member of the National Congress and has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. President Ma said that Minister Pascua is a key member of President Porfirio Lobo Sosa's government and just recently received the Order of Resplendent Banner with Grand Cordon from the ROC's Ministry of National Defense in recognition of his contributions to bilateral relations. The president added that the two nations maintain close military ties. For instance, Honduras regularly dispatches officials to participate in an advanced professional training course arranged by the ROC Defense Ministry. In addition, military academies in both countries have exchange student programs and the two countries also engage in security cooperation projects, all of which, he explained, have served as a model for the ROC’s foreign military cooperation with other allies.

President Ma expressed his appreciation to Honduras for speaking on behalf of the ROC in international venues, where it has supported the ROC's desire to participate in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Civil Aviation Organization, among others. The president commented that while he has promoted a policy of flexible diplomacy since taking office in 2008, the ROC continues to place extreme importance on assistance to its allies, especially in the area of humanitarian aid. Last year, for example, the ROC immediately sent a rescue team to Haiti after that nation suffered a devastating earthquake. The ROC also provides financial assistance to orphans, funds the construction of permanent homes, and has established public health and vocational training organizations in that nation. The president said he hopes that the ROC and Honduras can further strengthen their cooperative relationship in this respect.

Minister and Mrs. Pascua and Honduran Ambassador to the ROC René Francisco Umaña Chinchilla were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu and Chief of General Staff General Lin Jan-yi to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Advisor Tung Kuo-yu.