Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of March 8 with the winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Dr. Ada E. Yonath. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, extended a cordial welcome to Dr. Yonath on her visit to Taiwan.

The president remarked that Dr. Yonath has made important contributions in the fields of chemistry, biology, and nuclear medicine. Presently visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Academia Sinica, she is a distinguished female scientist of international renown who has won many honors in recognition of her efforts. In addition to encouraging local scientists in related fields, her visit as a highly acclaimed female scientist will also help to serve as an example for other women.

President Ma stated that relations between Taiwan and Israel have developed on a number of fronts in recent years. In the field of scientific research, for example, the president said that in 1999 when he was serving as Taipei City mayor he visited Israel, where he and Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert signed a cooperative agreement on cultural exchanges. In addition, he also visited the institution where Dr. Yonath teaches. Consequently, he has high expectations that the number of fields in which the two countries cooperate will further expand.

Dr. Yonath expressed her appreciation to the president for meeting with her and stated that during her youth Taiwan and Israel already maintained academic ties. She further said she hopes that students from the two countries will be able to interact even more closely in the future.

Dr. Yonath was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Academia Sinica President Wong Chi-huey (翁啟惠) and National Science Council Minister Cyrus C. Y. Chu (朱敬一) to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Ko Kuang-yueh (葛光越).