President Ma Ying-jeou attended a reception on the evening of May 25 to celebrate Africa Day 2011, and was invited to deliver remarks during the event.
The president noted that Africa Day is held to mark the May 25, 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The OAU then established its own successor, the African Union (AU), on July 9, 2002. Through its pursuit of cooperation and peace in Africa, and its promotion of many worthwhile projects, the organization has made outstanding contributions.
President Ma remarked that despite the significant geographic distance that separates Taiwan and Africa, a strong kinship exists between the two sides. In addition to the deep bonds between the ROC and its friends and allies in Africa, both sides share the ideals of freedom, democracy, and equitable development, he said. The ROC since the 1960s has shared its development experience with friends in Africa, providing assistance in a wide range of areas, including agricultural technology, animal husbandry, vocational training, and health care. In recent years, he said, both sides have cooperated in the development of renewable energy sources and other environmentally sustainable development projects.
The president furthermore stated that last year the ROC promoted the model Light for Africa project in Burkina Faso to provide solar-powered lights to children there so that they can study in the evening. Other major cooperative initiatives promoted by the ROC include the construction and management of a national medical center in Burkina Faso, a grain self-sufficiency project and the construction of a vocational training center in The Gambia, the construction and management of a thermal power plant in Sao Tome and Principe, and the construction of a new international airport in Swaziland, he explained.
President Ma stated that the ROC has promoted its Youth Ambassador Exchange Program over the past two years in an effort to strengthen interaction among youth from the ROC and its allies. Arrangements are being made for 37 groups of youth ambassadors from local colleges and universities to head to 33 nations this year, some of which are the ROC’s African allies, so that they can engage in cultural and academic interaction with outstanding peers in those countries, he said. Meanwhile, the International Youth Culture and Study Tour to the ROC (Taiwan) will continue to be held this year. The brightest youth from friends and allies will be invited to Taiwan under the project to meet and interact with young people here, he stated.
Turning to economic and trade relations, the president noted that trade between Taiwan and Africa in 2010 stood at about US$9.4 billion, up roughly 54% from 2009, while trade in the first four months of this year jumped 64% year-on-year. This points to increasingly close trade and economic ties between the ROC and Africa, he remarked, adding that considerable room still exists for further expansion.
During the reception, the president specially expressed his appreciation to African allies for continuing to support the ROC in the international community. These friends have spoken on behalf of the ROC in many international venues, he said, adding that their assistance was crucial in enabling Taiwan to begin participating in the World Health Assembly two years ago. Lastly, the president and the distinguished guests attending the reception raised their glasses to toast a lasting alliance between the ROC and Africa.