President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of March 26 with Saint Lucia's Alva Romanus Baptiste (Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, and Civil Aviation) and Harold Dalson (Minister for Social Transformation, Local Government, and Community Empowerment). The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, extended a warm welcome to the two gentlemen on their visit to Taiwan and also expressed hope that this visit will pave the way for continued strengthening of bilateral interaction and cooperation.
In remarks, the president first noted that Minister Baptiste and Minister Dalson have each served as parliamentarians for two terms, and both are senior politicians with distinguished academic backgrounds. Pointing out that this marks the first visit to Taiwan for both Minister Baptiste and Minister Dalson, the president commented that the trip signals the importance they place on the relationship between the two countries. He further expressed confidence that this visit will help to expand bilateral cooperation.
President Ma stated that Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin (林永樂) led a delegation from the ROC this past February on a visit to Saint Lucia, where he discussed a variety of interaction and cooperation projects with officials. This points to the stability of the alliance between the two countries, he said. President Ma also asked the visitors to forward his deepest appreciation to Saint Lucia Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy and Prime Minister Kenny D. Anthony for Saint Lucia's resolute support for the friendship and alliance between the two nations.
The president commented that since taking office he has strived to improve relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. He stressed that the ROC government has consistently sought, under the framework of the ROC Constitution, to maintain the status quo of "no unification, no independence, and no use of force" in the Taiwan Strait, and to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait ties under the "1992 Consensus," whereby each side acknowledges the existence of "one China" but maintains its own interpretation of what that means. This policy has significantly improved the relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, and has also effectively reduced tension in the Taiwan Strait, he said. The president pointed out that to date the two sides have signed 18 agreements and two points of consensus. This has brought cross-strait relations to their most peaceful and stable state in the past 60 years, he remarked.
The president then turned the topic of conversation to the recent sovereignty dispute over the Diaoyutai Islets in the East China Sea. President Ma reiterated that the Diaoyutais are inherent territory of the ROC and appurtenant to Taiwan. But he stated that although sovereignty over national territory cannot be compromised, natural resources can be shared, which is why he unveiled his East China Sea Peace Initiative in the hope that negotiation and dialogue can be used to mitigate possible conflicts. He also said that the ROC is willing, so long as other parties agree to do so as well, to shelve the conflict so that joint development of resources can be undertaken. This, he noted, will ensure peace and stability in the seas of this area.
President Ma emphasized that since the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saint Lucia and the ROC in 2007, cooperation has advanced on many fronts. He said he hopes to be able to visit Saint Lucia at an appropriate time, and also welcomes Prime Minister Anthony to select a time to visit Taiwan. The president commented that the two leaders could then further exchange opinions on interaction and cooperation, paving the way for continued strengthening of the alliance between the two countries.
The president furthermore stated that cooperation initiatives between the two countries are being carried out in a variety of fields, including prevention of the black sigatoka disease that afflicts bananas, infrastructure projects in 17 districts throughout Saint Lucia, a project to enhance information systems, and a sustainable energy project. The president expressed his hopes that Minister Baptiste and Minister Dalson, upon their return to Saint Lucia, will share their experiences in Taiwan with their nation and help to further promote interaction and cooperation on a number of fronts.
Minister Baptiste and Minister Dalson were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Gary Song-Huann Lin (林松煥) to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting were Secretary-General to the President Timothy Chin-Tien Yang (楊進添) and National Security Council Advisor Francis Yi-Hua Kan (甘逸驊).