President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of October 29 attended the opening ceremonies of the 2015 International Austronesian Conference. In addition to explaining the close relationship between the ROC and Austronesian-speaking countries, the president called for continued strengthening of interaction, understanding, and cooperation among Austronesian peoples.
In remarks, the president stated that the Executive Yuan's Council of Indigenous Peoples organized the first Assembly of Austronesian Leaders 13 years ago in 2002. Over the years the ROC has invited government officials, scholars, and experts from nearly 30 countries to attend the forum, promoting substantive international dialogue and cooperation, thus making this conference especially valuable, he said.
President Ma mentioned that in 2013 the ROC and New Zealand signed the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC), which marked the first time that the ROC had signed a treaty or agreement with a foreign party that included a chapter related to bilateral cooperation between indigenous peoples of the two signatories. This, the president added, has paved the way for even closer bilateral economic and cultural ties. The ANZTEC has already yielded many achievements, the president pointed out, specifically noting that the Taipei International Book Exhibition 2015 held in February featured a joint display of books from Maori writers in New Zealand and writers from Taiwan's indigenous tribes, winning great acclaim. In addition, Taiwan Indigenous TV and New Zealand's Maori Television signed a memorandum of understanding in September that paves the way for enhanced interaction and cooperation in television, a new milestone in bilateral cultural interaction, the president said.
President Ma then stated that in 2012 the ROC was invited for the first time to take part in the Festival of Pacific Arts with over 20 member states from Pacific Community, thus bringing the culture of Taiwan's indigenous peoples to the international stage.
The president noted that the main theme of this year's conference is "Territorial Governance and Cultural Heritage," a topic of interest to the international community that also received considerable attention from the ROC government. He said that since taking office in 2008 he has actively promoted the adoption of laws and regulations that protect the rights and cultures of indigenous peoples. The Executive Yuan has already forwarded the draft of a law concerning indigenous land and sea rights to the Legislative Yuan for screening. Draft articles promoting autonomous areas for indigenous peoples also clearly grant them land rights in self-governing areas, and a draft plan to construct a national indigenous peoples museum has been completed and is currently being reviewed by the Executive Yuan. All of this work is testament to the importance that the government places on policies related to indigenous peoples, said the president.
President Ma explained the strong relationships between the ROC and its South Pacific island allies, bolstered by close cooperation in a wide variety of areas, including agriculture, environmental protection, solar power generation, and health and medical care. For instance, the ROC has promoted the 360 Project in Nauru to help that nation develop six types of agricultural and livestock products over a three-year period so that imports of those products is eliminated. The ROC has also sought to take advantage of the abundant sunshine in Kiribati and the Solomon Islands to provide their people with clean energy, reduce reliance on diesel power generation, and help these countries reduce their carbon output. In addition, the ROC is cooperating with the United States in promoting the Pacific Islands Leadership Program, thus forging interaction between young leaders from Taiwan and Pacific island nations. The president believes that in addition to the aforementioned cooperation, there is still room for all sides to strengthen linguistic and cultural interaction to foster even closer bilateral relations.
The president then expressed hope that the scholars and experts in attendance will share their knowledge and experience, and generate groundbreaking suggestions with regard to topics important to Austronesian peoples. He also hopes that the visitors will come away from their visits to the villages of indigenous peoples in the ROC with a better understanding of the unique culture of Taiwan's indigenous tribes.
Also attending the event were Nauru Ambassador to the ROC Ludwig Dowong Keke, Palau Ambassador to the ROC Dilmei L. Olkeriil, Tuvalu Ambassador to the ROC Minute Alapati Taupo, New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei Director Si'alei Allegra Van Toor, Australian Office in Taipei Representative Catherine Jane Raper, Malaysian Friendship and Trade Center in Taipei Acting President Anwar Udzir, Manila Economic and Cultural Office Managing Director and Resident Representative Antonio I. Basilio, Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Mario Ste-Marie, Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Lin Chiang-yi (林江義), and Deputy Secretary-General to the President Hsiung Kuang-hua (熊光華).