President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of December 6 with a delegation led by Nauru's President Baron Divavesi Waqa and Mrs. Waqa. On behalf of the government and people of the ROC, President Ma welcomed the group to Taiwan and expressed deep mourning and admiration for former South African President Nelson Mandela, who had just passed away.
In remarks, President Ma stated that the ROC and Nauru cooperate closely on a range of undertakings, including: the "360 project," which emphasizes a balanced diet; a schoolchildren's nutritional lunch plan; and a clean energy plan that promotes energy conservation and carbon reduction. These projects, he said, have all yielded concrete results. In addition, in the field of medicine, Taiwan's Taichung Veterans General Hospital and Nauru's Ministry of Health have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Taiwan Medical Program to Nauru, which went into effect in September of last year. Under this initiative, the ROC dispatches physicians specializing in metabolic science to work in Nauru, and the ROC is also helping establish a medical data system, which will greatly enhance healthcare for patients in Nauru while strengthening bilateral medical cooperation.
As for cultural ties, President Ma noted, a total of 22 students from Nauru have come to study in Taiwan since 2006, and this year there are five students from that nation here, which is the highest number yet in a single academic year. In addition, Nauru this year sent one promising young individual to take part in the Pacific Islands Leadership Partnership program being promoted by the ROC and the United States, he said. The president also pointed out that over the past four years Nauru has selected 16 young people to participate in the Taiwan Study Camp for Future Leaders from Pacific Allies. This year, President Ma stated, Taiwan inaugurated the School of Medicine for International Students, but, none of the 33 students enrolled there is from Nauru. The president therefore expressed hope that next year the government of Nauru will consider selecting individuals to come here to study under this program, as they will help to raise the standard of medical care after they graduate and return home.
President Ma also mentioned that the ROC and Nauru governments place considerable emphasis on the rights of the physically and mentally challenged. In July and August of this year, Taiwan invited 10 physically and mentally challenged students from Nauru, and 11 individuals accompanying them, on a visit to Taiwan. This activity attracted a lot of attention in Nauru and was especially meaningful for both nations, he said.
President Ma again expressed his deepest gratitude to Nauru for its longstanding support for meaningful participation for Taiwan in international organizations and activities. In particular, he said, President Waqa on September 26 of this year spoke on behalf of Taiwan at the 68th General Debate of the UN General Assembly. And in that same month, he noted, Taiwan was invited to attend the 38th annual conference of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) by the ICAO council president as a special guest. President Ma said that this was the first time Taiwan was invited to participate in an ICAO event since it lost its representation in the UN in 1971, making this especially meaningful.
President Ma pointed out that Nauru presently chairs the Alliance of Small Island States, and is very concerned about climate change. The president said the ROC hopes to continue to strengthen interaction with Nauru on this front and contribute in any way it can. In addition, President Ma remarked, both nations share a core commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law, so both should continue working to strengthen their cooperation and add even more depth to the alliance.
President Ma then made remarks on the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela. He said that Mr. Mandela strived for freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law for all of South Africa's people, and sought the abolishment of South Africa's apartheid system. He was imprisoned for 27 years for promoting his ideals, the president remarked. President Ma said it was deeply saddening to hear of Mr. Mandela's passing, especially in the run-up to Human Rights Day on December 10.
The president stated that Mr. Mandela visited Taiwan on July 31, 1993 when serving as Chairman of the African National Congress, and was awarded the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon on that visit. Mr. Mandela praised Taiwan's efforts to protect human rights and strive for social justice, and he also lauded the nation's founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People, which are in line with the idea of "government of the people, by the people, and for the people." Mr. Mandela said they could serve as the basis for mankind's pursuit of the ideals of freedom and democracy. That trip, the president commented, was Mr. Mandela's only visit to Taiwan.
President Ma stressed that while a fighter for human rights has passed, his spirit will live on, and we will always remember him. The protection of human rights is a universal value, the president said, adding that the ROC in 2009 ratified two UN human rights covenants, and subsequently enacted an enforcement law to incorporate them into domestic law. At the same time, he noted, the ROC government each year releases a human rights report and continues to adopt human rights protections to bring Taiwan's human rights standards in line with those of advanced nations.