Your Excellency Ambassador (Alhagie Ebrima N.H.) Jarjou, Head of the African Group of Ambassadors and Representatives,
Your Excellency Ambassador (Jacques) Sawadogo, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
Deputy Minister Ko Shen-Yeaw (柯森耀) of Foreign Affairs,
Excellencies ambassadors and honorable representatives,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good evening! Bonsoir! Boa noite!
It is a great pleasure to be here at the 2013 Africa Day Celebration. This is the fifth year in a row that I have attended this wonderful event. It is an important celebration that highlights African solidarity and progress, as well as the importance that we place upon friendly relations with our diplomatic allies in Africa. Africa Day was created to commemorate the founding on May 25, 1963 of the African Union's predecessor—the Organization of African Unity (OAU). This year marks the 50th anniversary of that event, which makes this year's Africa Day Celebration especially significant. I would like to start by offering my sincerest good wishes to the many friends from our African diplomatic allies, and to express a sincere wish that the peoples of the African Union will have lasting peace, progress, and prosperity.
The many miles which separate the Republic of China (ROC) from Africa have not proven a hindrance to interaction and cooperation. To the contrary, our ties have only continued to grow closer over the years. To strengthen the cordial relations between the ROC and our diplomatic allies in the region, gain a firsthand understanding of progress made in various cooperative programs, and respond to sincere invitations by African heads of state, I led a delegation to Burkina Faso, The Gambia, and Swaziland from April 7 to 18 last year, which was not long after my re-election. We were received warmly and accorded gracious hospitality while there. More than a year later, I still remember vividly the many episodes that I experienced during my stay in Africa. It's really a very wonderful memory. Let me just relate some of these episodes to you.
I remember in Burkina Faso I went to an elementary school where we had carried out the "Light for Africa" program so that the kids would have solar-powered lights, LED lights, in the evening to study by. On that very day I went to a small village very close to the capital and saw young kids lying down to write their homework in French. I was deeply touched. That was the first time they could use the lamp to study. And I asked one of the boys in French how many more lamps do they need. He simply responded: "Beaucoup, monsieur." And when I visited his school, his teacher told me that after the program, students' performance in their monthly tests has improved greatly. I felt so satisfied because this is exactly what we'd like to see.
My next stop was The Gambia. In addition to the much reported push-up contests with President Jammeh, I was very happy to go on board the patrol boat that we shared with The Gambia. I served in the Navy before, so I was very pleased to know that, with that vessel in The Gambia's Navy, you are in a much better position to patrol your coast line and the Gambia River. When I went to Swaziland, we visited a program where a teacher from Taiwan taught the women in Swaziland how to use sewing machines, so they could make uniforms for kids. That has created opportunities for these ladies to earn some money, which has enhanced their position in the family vis-a-vis their husbands. This is a very interesting change as a result of this very small program. So I think in addition to quite a few programs in the areas of medical care, vocational training, agricultural assistance, and other programs, this is a very important thing that has really bound us together. Actually, Taiwan underwent all these steps in the 1940s and 1950s when we were in the developing stage. So we are really in a good position to share our experience with all of you. And we are more than willing to do that. I noticed when I came in so many students from Africa are now studying in Taiwan. Some of the programs are tailor-made for their study so they could contribute what they have learned here back in their homeland. This is exactly what we want to see.
On the other hand, we also want to thank all our African friends. You have done very well on many international occasions to speak for the ROC. We want to meaningfully participate in international events and international organizations. But we do need your support on many of these occasions. Today, our minister of health is in Geneva attending the World Health Assembly. While there, quite a few representatives from your countries are speaking for us on the spot. By doing that, the rest of the world will understand that the ROC does have many friends in the international community to support it. And this is exactly what I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for.
I also see some important growth in ties between Africa and Taiwan. For instance, just to give you one example, economic growth in Africa, as you know, has been quite apparent. In 2002, trade between Taiwan and Africa was only US$3.3 billion. In 2012, the amount went up to US$12.2 billion. You can see how much has progressed during the 10-year interval. Certainly, we want to see more progress. We have, for instance, reduced the incidence of malaria in Sao Tome and Principe from 50% to 5%. In addition, we have also used our program to set up a more permanent mission over there to help improve the health conditions in African countries.
But all in all, what we are trying to do is to become a sincere and effective developmental partner of Africa. This is a job we started almost more than 60 years ago. This is something we will continue to do. Because our country, having gone through so many developmental difficulties and having achieved the status of a more developed country, is obligated to share its experience and progress with all of you. Today, I am here again at the Africa Day Celebration, and I want to once again promise you that we will be friends, and be friends forever.
Thank you very much. Merci beaucoup! Obrigado!