President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of November 9 received credentials from the Republic of Haiti's new Ambassador to the ROC Rachel Coupaud. The president extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Coupaud on her arrival in the ROC to assume her new post, and expressed hope for the continued strengthening of bilateral cooperation.
In remarks, President Ma stated that Ambassador Coupaud has a strong academic background and extensive experience. She previously served as an advisor to the Haitian Prime Minister's Office and the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, and worked as a liaison with non-governmental organizations coordinating Haiti's post-earthquake reconstruction. For more than three years, Ambassador Coupaud has served as Haiti's Charge d'Affaires in the ROC and is familiar with local matters, having already made outstanding contributions in promoting a wide range of cooperation and interaction between the two countries, the president said. President Ma noted that he has visited Haiti twice and on both occasions Ambassador Coupaud personally handled the planning and hospitality arrangements, ensuring the success of both trips. The president said that Ambassador Coupaud's promotion is well-deserved, and that he's confident the bilateral alliance will be enhanced during her tenure.
President Ma then pointed out that the ROC and Haiti established relations on April 25, 1956, and will celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties next year. The two countries have a close relationship, with high-ranking officials making frequent mutual visits. The president noted that he first visited Haiti in 2013, and that the warmth and friendliness of the Haitian people left a deep impression on him. In March of last year Haitian President Michel Martelly and Mrs. Martelly visited the ROC, while President Ma led a delegation on his second visit to Haiti on July 14 of this year. During that trip, President Ma was accorded the very highest level of hospitality and courtesy by President Martelly, and the government and people of Haiti.
The president went on to say that the ROC and Haiti have cooperated closely over the past few years, with projects ranging from building infrastructure and boosting agricultural output to health care, medicine, and post-disaster reconstruction all achieving good results. In the area of academic interaction, the president noted that each year the ROC provides scholarships to outstanding Haitian youth to come to Taiwan to pursue higher education. To date, over 200 Haitian scholarships recipients have completed their studies here and returned to Haiti, and many of the returnees are distinguishing themselves in both the public and private sectors. The ROC government has also assisted in the reconstruction of Haiti's Supreme Court Building, which is now in use. This assistance also was a response to President Martelly's public declaration of Haiti's determination to pursue democracy and the rule of law. Cooperation between the ROC and the Food For The Poor organization has also seen Taiwan donate and transport over 20,000 metric tons of rice to Haiti over the years. These efforts have helped Haiti address food security issues, and the results have been widely praised, the president said.
President Ma also stated that bilateral trade in 2012 was about US$19.38 million, but grew to US$28.3 million last year. Ambassador Coupaud has arranged mutual visits by delegations of businessmen from both Taiwan and Haiti, and deserves credit for promoting the increase in bilateral trade. Looking forward, the president remarked that the ROC government would be very happy to work with the Haitian government to help meet their key administrative objectives, and will continue to support bilateral cooperation projects in many areas. He said that the ROC will make every effort to assist Haiti in its national development, and in particular to help the Haitian government develop solar power generation and vocational training projects. This, the president said, will help promote sustainable development and greater wellbeing for the people of both nations.
President Ma commented that as a member of the international community the ROC aspires, as is customary, to participate in international organizations and activities and make a contribution. The government and people of Haiti have provided strong support for the ROC in the international community, and President Martelly has spoken out on behalf of the ROC for two consecutive years during the General Debate of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. This shows that the government and people of Haiti identify with the ROC's desire for meaningful participation in the international community, and President Ma said that the government and people of the ROC deeply appreciate these gestures.
The president noted that Haiti held its first-round parliamentary elections on August 9 of this year, and the first round of its presidential election on October 25. Elections for the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, along with the election of the president and local officials, are expected to be completed by the end of this year. President Ma said that democratic elections are an extremely important factor for promoting democracy in any nation, adding that President Martelly has spared no effort in promoting democratic processes and promoting social harmony, winning accolades from the UN and the international community. President Ma expressed his deepest respect for the determination and perseverance of President Martelly and the government and people of Haiti in the pursuit of democracy, and said he hopes that their elections will be successfully concluded this year.
President Ma stressed that Haiti and the ROC have had a friendly alliance for nearly 60 years thanks to the concerted efforts of the governments and peoples of the two nations. He said that during his visit to Haiti earlier this year, he invited President Martelly to lead another delegation to the ROC. President Ma also expressed his firm belief that Ambassador Coupaud's efforts will help forge even closer bilateral relations.