President Ma Ying-jeou met on the afternoon of May 21 with a delegation from the Republic of The Gambia led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad Mambury Njie. The delegation, which was in Taiwan to participate in the inauguration of the 13th-term president and vice president of the ROC, met with the president at the Presidential Office. Also in attendance were Vice President Wu Den-yih, National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen (胡為真), and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ssu-Tsun Shen (沈斯淳).
In remarks, the president stated that Minister Njie previously served as The Gambian Ambassador to the ROC and Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs. He was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad on April 16 by The Gambia President Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, and now just weeks later has come to Taiwan to take part in the inauguration proceedings, the president said. President Ma commented that Minister Njie will on this trip make a visit to the Taiwan International Cooperation Development Fund (ICDF) to better understand the state of the ROC's foreign assistance policies. The president extended a warm welcome to Minister Njie on behalf of the government and people of the ROC.
The president stated that President Jammeh is a model of good governance and has a strong ambition to do what is best for his country. He continues to seek to increase the number of physicians in his country, with the number having risen from two when he took office to over 90 at present. In addition, President Ma lauded his counterpart for placing great importance on women’s right to education and enhancing the status of women in society. A number of females have been appointed as cabinet ministers, the president pointed out, singling out Health and Social Welfare Minister Fatim Badjie as an outstanding example.
President Ma stated that in April of this year when he was on a visit to The Gambia, he came to have a better understanding of the vocational training and medical service projects being carried out by the ROC in that nation. During the visit, he also made a trip to the Port of Banjul where he inspected the two fast attack boats donated to The Gambia by the ROC, adding that he deeply sensed the desire of The Gambia to develop. Meanwhile, the president said that The Gambia's defense minister previously mentioned that his nation's speed boats had been damaged in a storm and were no longer operable. Consequently, the ROC has decided to provide timely assistance to bolster The Gambia's efforts to prevent smuggling and ensure its shoreline defenses.
President Ma reiterated his gratitude to The Gambia for speaking on behalf of the ROC in the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the World Organization for Animal Health and other international venues. This further highlights the "values-based relationship" between the two nations as described by President Jammeh, he said.
The delegation led by Minister Njie included Minister of Tourism and Culture Fatou M. J. Njie, The Gambia Ambassador to the ROC Alhagie Ebrima N. H. Jarjou, and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Habib Jarra.