President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of October 18 with a Russian delegation that was in Taiwan to sign an aviation agreement (Agreement between the Taipei-Moscow Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission and the Moscow-Taipei Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission on Air Services between Taiwan and the Russian Federation). Leading the group was Chairman of the Moscow-Taipei Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission (MTC) Oleg Ivanovich Lobov and Mrs. Lobov. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, welcomed the visitors and called for further strengthening of cooperative ties.
In remarks, the president first noted that Chairman Lobov is representing his nation in signing a Taiwan-Russia aviation agreement. This pact marks a significant new beginning in relations between the two countries, he said, thanking Chairman Lobov for his longstanding friendship and support for Taiwan, and noting that the chairman frequently attends important activities held by Taiwan's representative office in Russia. In addition, the president pointed out that when his wife Chow Mei-ching (周美青) led Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre to Russia in 2011 and 2013 for performances in her capacity as honorary director of the dance troupe, Chairman Lobov and Mrs. Lobov attended both the performances as well as related receptions, thus demonstrating their friendship for Taiwan.
President Ma stated that Russia is a great country that has enormous natural, technological, cultural, and human resources. In addition, Russia has an illustrious history, and its culture is world renowned. The president noted that the government here has long placed great importance on ties and cooperation with Russia, and expressed hope that the two nations can go further to allow visa-free travel between the two nations. He also stated that the openinglaunch of scheduled direct flights between the two countries will enhance economic, trade, and cultural ties.
In discussing cross-strait relations, President Ma explained that he has sought to strengthen cross-strait relations since taking office five years ago. To date, the two sides have signed 19 agreements, and over 660 flights now operate each week between cities in Taiwan and mainland China. Each year, the number of cross-strait visits has exceeded nine million, and the value of trade in goods and services has come to US$160 billion, he said. Interaction between the two sides is quite stable, the president commented, adding that Taiwan's government hopes to expand its cooperative relationship with Russia.
President Ma stressed that the ROC is a peace-loving and freedom-loving nation that seeks to maintain peaceful interaction with neighboring countries and promote bilateral economic and trade ties. Over the past five years, the president remarked, the cross-strait relationship, which had been fraught with conflict and confrontation, has switched to an emphasis on reconciliation and cooperation. This has helped Taiwan to expand its international relationships, he stated. The president expressed hope that the signing of the Taiwan-Russia aviation agreement will promote rapid and comprehensive development of bilateral relations, and will further expand interaction and cooperation in a variety of fields.
Also in the delegation were MTC Secretary General Vladimir Eduardovich Maslov, and Chief Expert for the Department of State Policy in Civil Aviation under Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation Alexander Vyacheslavovich Shatalin. The group was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Shen-Yeaw Ko (柯森耀) to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Advisor Francis Yi-Hua Kan (甘逸驊).