President Ma Ying-jeou met with delegations from three of the ROC's diplomatic allies in the South Pacific – the Republic of Palau, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu – that came to the Presidential Office on the morning of May 19 to congratulate him as he prepared to begin a second term in office. The delegations were in Taiwan to take part in the inauguration ceremonies for the 13th-term president and vice president of the ROC. Also attending the meetings were Vice President-elect Wu Den-yih and Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Chin-tien Yang (楊進添).
During President Ma's meeting with President Johnson Toribiong of the Republic of Palau, the president commented that the two nations have maintained friendly and close ties since establishing diplomatic relations in 1999. President Ma pointed out that President Toribiong served as Palau Ambassador to the ROC for eight years and consequently has a deep understanding of the ROC. He also expressed his hopes that the two nations will continue to strengthen their cooperation in the fields of clean energy, the development of marine resources, and the training of human resources.
After the conclusion of that meeting, President Ma met with Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo of the Solomon Islands and commented that the two nations have maintained close and cooperative relations in the nearly three decades since diplomatic relations were established in 1983. The president said that considerable achievements have been seen in cooperative initiatives between the two nations in technology exchanges, medical care and hygiene, education, and infrastructure. For instance, the ROC has assisted the Solomon Islands in rice farming, fruit farming, and animal husbandry projects, while aiding in the construction of the Central Hospital, as well as the establishment of the "Taiwan Health Center" and the dispatch of medical professionals from Taiwan to staff the facility, he said. The ROC has also promoted the "Light from Taiwan" project in the Solomon Islands, and is also helping that nation with other solar power projects, which reflects the strong friendship between the two nations.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Willy Telavi of Tuvalu, President Ma pointed out that diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in September 1979, meaning that the ties have now spanned 33 years. Cooperation between the two countries focuses on six key areas, namely farming and fisheries, medical care and hygiene, environmental protection and clean energy, vocational training, food safety, and cultural ties. President Ma said he is quite pleased that these initiatives are moving forward smoothly.
The president also mentioned that during a visit to South Pacific allies in March 2010, he visited the Tuvaluan capital of Funafuti, experiencing the warmth and hospitality of the local people and the beauty of the Tuvaluan scenery. He said his trip there left a deep impression on him. President Ma made particular mention that Tuvalu donated US$210,000 to the ROC after devastating flooding and mudslides in portions of southern and eastern Taiwan caused by Typhoon Morakot in 2009. The amount of this donation was equivalent to 1% of Tuvalu's GDP, the president said, adding that the government and people of the ROC were deeply touched by this gesture.
President Ma also thanked the Republic of Palau, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu for speaking on behalf of the ROC in many international venues, expressing support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and other international organizations and activities. The president also called for continued strengthening of the relationships and alliances with these countries.
Accompanying Palau President Toribiong and Mrs. Toribiong was Republic of Palau Charge D'Affaires to the ROC Alfred Fritz. Joining Solomon Islands Prime Minister Lilo and Mrs. Lilo at their meeting with President Ma were Solomon Islands Ambassador to the ROC Laurie Chan and Solomon Islands Secretary to the Prime Minister Barnabas Anga. In attendance with Tuvalu Prime Minister Telavi and Mrs. Telavi was Minister for Home Affairs and Rural Development Pelenike Tekinene Isaia.