Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of August 12 with Tuvalu Foreign Affairs Minister Apisai Ielemia and Mrs. Ielemia. On behalf of the government and people of the ROC, the president extended a warm welcome to the couple on their visit to Taiwan.

The president noted that this marks Minister Ielemia's eighth visit to Taiwan and that he is one of the ROC's closest friends in diplomatic circles. President Ma remarked that Tuvalu and the ROC have maintained formal diplomatic relations for 32 years and that Tuvalu is the oldest diplomatic ally of the ROC among the Pacific island nations. Bilateral relations have been extremely close, he added.

The president stated that the two countries have engaged in a range of cooperation projects over the years, covering agriculture, fisheries, medicine, and energy. The ROC provided assistance to Tuvalu in the construction of the central office building and the Vaiaku Lagi Hotel. The ROC also helped over 300 Tuvaluan miners to return home from Nauru, and provided assistance in building a deep sea fishing vessel, he added. Furthermore, the ROC has dispatched medical missions to provide medical and health services to the people of that nation, and has invited officials and students from Tuvalu to study here. Lastly, international youth ambassadors from Taiwan have traveled to Tuvalu and interacted with peers there, he said. The president noted that two years ago Tuvalu donated US$210,000 to the ROC after flooding and landslides caused by Typhoon Morakot devastated parts of southern and eastern Taiwan. That amount was equivalent to 1% of Tuvalu's GDP, and the gesture deeply touched the government and people here, he said.

President Ma specially expressed his appreciation for Tuvalu speaking on behalf of the ROC in many international venues. In addition to previously helping the ROC to take part in activities related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the representative from Tuvalu to the Ministerial Meeting of the Least Developed Countries that was held in February in India specifically recognized and expressed support for the ROC in light of its contributions and work in Tuvalu. President Ma explained that the ROC in the future will continue to serve as a provider of humanitarian assistance in an effort to make a contribution to world peace and prosperity.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ielemia expressed his appreciation to President Ma for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with him. He also stated that he will continue to work to promote cooperation and interaction between the two countries, and will continue to support participation by the ROC in the international community.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ielemia and Mrs. Ielemia 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 Deputy Secretary-General Chih-kung Liu (劉志攻).