President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of December 8 with a delegation led by Nauru's President Baron Divavesi Waqa and Mrs. Waqa. President Ma thanked Nauru for speaking on behalf of Taiwan at international venues, and briefed his visitors on the status of various cooperation and exchange programs currently underway between the two nations.
In remarks, President Ma noted that President Waqa had spoken on Taiwan's behalf this past September during the Sustainable Development Summit at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, and had stated in November at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that all nations should appreciate the contributions that Taiwan has made in the fight against climate change. In addition, Nauru's Minister for Commerce, Industry and Environment Aaron Cook sent a letter to the UNFCCC executive secretary in October of this year to urge support for allowing Taiwan to participate in the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC as a "government observer" under the name of our Environmental Protection Administration. "We are very grateful for all of these gestures," said President Ma.
Discussing joint projects being implemented by the ROC and Nauru, President Ma stated that the two nations have stable diplomatic ties and an excellent relationship. While visiting Nauru in 2010, the president proposed the 360 Project as a means of helping Nauru develop six types of agricultural and livestock products (including vegetables, chicken eggs, and fruits) over a three-year period, thereby reducing imports of these items to zero and promoting self-sufficiency. And Nauru's national development plan calls for the use of diesel fuel to be cut in half by 2020, which is why the ROC is helping Nauru implement various clean energy projects. Examples include the ROC's provision of 3,200 mini lamps under the Light from Taiwan project, and the installation of solar lighting equipment at eight elementary schools with an eye to providing children a better learning environment while at the same time promoting environmental preservation and energy conservation. In addition, a project to gradually make all lighting fixtures in Nauru energy-efficient was completed in October of 2014.
In terms of medical cooperation, President Ma said that Taichung Veterans General Hospital signed a memorandum on the "Taiwan Medical Program to Nauru" with that nation's Ministry of Health. Under that program, the ROC has been dispatching medical specialists to Nauru. During the start-up phase they only went for short-term stays, but the ROC has gradually expanded the program to include long-term service. The two countries last year also formally signed a cooperative agreement on transferring patients in urgent need to Taiwan for care. Meanwhile, the president noted that the ROC will at the end of this year donate 40 refurbished hospital beds to Nauru to upgrade hospital hardware and enhance the standard of medical services.
With respect to training programs, President Ma pointed out that since 2014 the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund has been providing technical and vocational training to youth from Pacific island nations, and so far eight young people from Nauru have come to Taiwan for training in such fields as: refrigeration, air conditioning, and energy technologies; computer, multimedia, and network applications; plumbing and electrical maintenance; auto repair; carpentry; and electrical machinery. And since 2006, a total of 31 students from Nauru, including a daughter and son of President Waqa's, have come to Taiwan to pursue advanced studies under the Taiwan Scholarship program. President Waqa's son has already completed his studies and returned to Nauru, while his daughter is currently enrolled at Yuanpei University of Medical Technology and is planning to take the admission test four years from now to the School of Medicine for International Students at I-Shou University in Kaohsiung. All these facts, said President Ma, show that bilateral cooperation in education and training is proceeding quite successfully.
President Waqa then took the floor, saying he was very pleased to be able to come to Taiwan once again and learn more about the country. The Republic of China, he said, is quite advanced both politically and economically, and on both scores is viewed in high regard throughout the international community. President Waqa further mentioned that Taiwan's efforts to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions are especially impressive, and that at this year's UNFCCC COP21 in Paris he called upon all nations to be appreciative of Taiwan's contributions in this regard. President Waqa further expressed hope that Taiwan and Nauru in the future can further deepen their cooperation in various areas, strengthen bilateral ties, and maintain a long-lasting friendship.