Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of July 27 with a delegation headed by Republic of Nicaragua National Assembly President René Núñez Téllez and Mrs. Núñez. President Ma, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, extended a cordial welcome to the delegation on their visit to Taiwan during the ROC's centenary.

The president recalled that he was treated with gracious hospitality by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Saavedra when he visited Nicaragua two years ago. He said that President Ortega personally drove him to the countryside to see the results of assistance provided by a team of agricultural technicians from the ROC. He also sampled adzuki beans grown there, which made a deep impression on him. President Ma mentioned that during the one-hour plus journey, President Ortega explained Nicaragua's history of struggle and shared his philosophy on eradicating poverty and hunger, as well as caring for the underprivileged. President Ma said that this was the longest conversation he has held with a head of state on any state visit, and that he enjoyed every minute of it. The president added that he learned a great deal on that visit and hopes National Assembly President Núñez will pass along his best wishes to President Ortega after he returns home.

President Ma also commented on National Assembly President Núñez's popularity in Nicaragua, noting that he is now in his third consecutive term as president of the parliament. President Ma also thanked the Nicaraguan Assembly for passing resolutions supporting the ROC's participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Civil Aviation Organization. The president said he deeply appreciates the friendship demonstrated by these actions, adding that he hopes the visitors will have an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the ROC's infrastructure and foreign affairs during their stay here, which would undoubtedly help to enhance cooperation and interaction between the two nations in the future.

Mr. and Mrs. Núñez and their delegation were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Chin-tien Yang (楊進添) to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Advisor Tung Kuo-yu (董國猷).