President Tsai hosts state banquet for Nauru President Baron Divavesi Waqa
On the evening of March 7 at the Presidential Office Building, President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Chen Chien-jen hosted a state banquet for a visiting delegation led by Republic of Nauru President Baron Divavesi Waqa and Mrs. Waqa. At the banquet, President Tsai expressed hope that Taiwan and Nauru can act in line with the spirit of "mutual assistance for mutual benefits" to enhance cooperation and work together for a better future. President Waqa sang a song—Friends—in both Chinese and English to symbolize the firm and lasting friendship between the two countries.
In remarks, President Tsai, on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, again welcomed President and Mrs. Waqa and the delegation to Taiwan for a state visit. She said that Taiwan and Nauru have a close relationship and have engaged in robust exchanges for many years across a wide range of fields. For example, the Taiwan agricultural mission in Nauru has recently been helping President Waqa promote the application of solar power to the cultivation of mushrooms. This is a very meaningful cooperation project.
President Tsai stated that Taiwan is immensely proud of its shiitake mushrooms, and expressed confidence that agricultural technology cooperation will soon enable our friends in Nauru to enjoy fresh, delicious Taiwanese mushrooms.
In addition to agriculture, said President Tsai, educational exchanges are another area where Taiwan takes a serious interest. Since 2006, a total of 36 outstanding students from Nauru have pursued higher education in Taiwan under the Taiwan Scholarship Program, including Carrentai Waqa, the daughter of President Waqa.
The president stated that Miss Waqa, who is currently studying in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology at Kaohsiung Medical University, was too busy with her studies to attend the banquet, but the president said she hoped Miss Waqa could finish her studies smoothly and return to her home country to help safeguard the health of the people of Nauru.
President Tsai emphasized that friendship between Taiwan and Nauru is an important force that helps Taiwan achieve participation in international organizations. Speaking on behalf of the people of Taiwan she again extended thanks for the vigorous support lent to Taiwan over the years by Nauru and President Waqa, and she expressed hope that Taiwan and Nauru can act in line with the spirit of "mutual assistance for mutual benefits" to enhance cooperation and work together for a better future.
In remarks of his own, President Waqa thanked President Tsai and the Taiwan government for their gracious hospitality, and also thanked Taiwan for the creative cooperation and exchanges that it has engaged in with Nauru in such areas as climate change, renewable energy, agriculture, fisheries, health care, and information technology. He also takes great pride, he said, in being a partner of Taiwan.
President Waqa also mentioned that Taiwan and Nauru have a shared commitment to peace, freedom, democracy, and human rights, and said that Nauru will continue to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations. Following the conclusion of his remarks, President Waqa and the members of his delegation sang a song—Friends—to symbolize the firm and lasting friendship between the two countries.
Among those present at the state banquet were Judicial Yuan President Hsu Tzong-li (許宗力) and Mrs. Hsu, Examination Yuan President Wu Jin-lin (伍錦霖), Control Yuan President Chang Po-ya (張博雅), Acting Secretary-General to the President Liu Chien-sin (劉建忻), National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Tseng Hou-jen (曾厚仁), Nauru Ambassador to the ROC Chitra Jeremiah and her husband, Minister of Foreign Affairs David T. Lee (李大維) and Mrs. Lee, ROC Ambassador to Nauru Chow Chin-fa (周進發) and Mrs. Chow, and the members of the visiting delegation.