President Ma Ying-jeou and Mrs. Ma on the evening of February 2 attended a banquet held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for all the ambassadors and representatives from foreign countries stationed in Taiwan. The banquet is held each year shortly after the beginning of the Lunar New Year. President and Mrs. Ma extended season's greetings to the guests and wished them health and prosperity in the Year of the Dragon.
In remarks at the event, President Ma stated that on January 14 the people of the ROC successfully elected the 13th-term president and vice president of the ROC, as well as the eighth Legislative Yuan. The president commented that the elections were free and fair, and marked another step forward for the ROC's democratic system. He noted that many countries have praised the success of the election, which has pleased the administration and the people of Taiwan.
President Ma stated that over the past year, relations between the ROC and its diplomatic allies have remained stable and close. In addition, mutual trust has been restored, and substantive ties strengthened, at the highest levels between Taiwan and a number of countries with which the ROC does not have formal diplomatic ties, including the United States, Japan, European Union members, ASEAN nations, New Zealand, and Australia. Meanwhile, Taiwan is participating in an increasing number of international organizations and activities. The president expressed his deepest appreciation to the diplomatic corps in Taiwan for the support and assistance they have provided the ROC.
The president stated that the ROC has every intention to continue with the policy that has been practiced over the past several years, whereby the nation has sought to be a peacemaker, a provider of humanitarian aid, a promoter of cultural ties, a creator of new technologies and business opportunities, and a standard-bearer of Chinese culture. At the same time, under the framework of the ROC Constitution, the government will continue to promote the cross-strait status quo of "no unification, no independence, and no use of force." It will also continue to promote the development of peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait on the basis of the "1992 Consensus," whereby each side maintains its respective definition of "one China."
President Ma remarked that in the past, antagonistic cross-strait relations caused difficulties for the ROC in its relations with the international community. Since taking office in May 2008, the president said, his administration and the public have worked together to transform the previous vicious cycle into a virtuous cycle. That 126 nations and areas throughout the world now offer Taiwanese visa-free courtesies or landing visas is evidence of the impact that this change of policy has had. The ROC strongly believes the public enjoys greater dignity as the nation gains respect. The government will continue to play the five important roles mentioned above and be a constructive force in the international community, and this will enable the world to realize the importance of the existence of the ROC.