President Tsai meets Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga
On the morning of April 24, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation led by Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga. On behalf of the government and people, the president welcomed the visitors to Taiwan, and expressed hope that she will one day be able to visit the Solomon Islands to promote bilateral relations.
In remarks, President Tsai noted that Deputy Prime Minister Maelanga last visited Taiwan in 2012, and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare led a delegation to Taiwan last July. In the past few years, relations between Taiwan and the Solomon Islands have developed steadily, thanks in no small part to unanimous support in the Solomon Islands among both the ruling and opposition camps. The president further expressed hope that she will have an opportunity in the future to visit the Solomon Islands to promote bilateral relations.
The president said she hoped the deputy prime minister and the parliamentarians would take advantage of this trip and their various visits here to develop a better understanding of Taiwan's current situation, to fully discuss a wide range of issues with counterparts in this country, and to trade ideas on how to enhance cooperation in the future.
President Tsai stated that the Solomon Islands was the first destination that the ROC Navy's Dunmu Fleet visited this year. When the fleet paid call in the Solomon Islands this mid-April it was welcomed by Prime Minister Sogavare, Deputy Prime Minister Maelanga, officials from all levels of government, and members of the general public. In addition to specially thanking everyone from both the ruling and opposition camps in the Solomon Islands for their enthusiastic hospitality, the president also thanked Deputy Prime Minister Maelanga for showing up at the port to welcome the naval visitors.
President Tsai pointed out that the friendship between the ROC and the Solomon Islands dates back 34 years. Taiwan is the Solomon's most important friend, and when a friend encounters difficulty, Taiwan will always be the first to lend a helping hand. She also thanked the Solomon Islands for its long-standing support for Taiwan in the international community, and she expressed hope that the two countries can engage in more exchanges to achieve even closer relations.
Turning to the topic of cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and the Solomon Islands, the president stated that the two countries cooperate in a broad range of fields, including agricultural technology, healthcare and sanitation, talent cultivation, environmental conservation, and meteorology. Particularly in the area of talent cultivation, Taiwan encourages young people from the Solomon Islands to apply for the Taiwan Scholarship and enroll at colleges and universities in Taiwan. The sons of Deputy Prime Minister Maelanga and Minister for the Environment Samuel Manetoali, for example, have studied in Taiwan. Hopefully, said the president, more outstanding young people from the Solomon Islands will come to Taiwan for study and exchanges. In addition to contributing what they learn after returning to their home country, these young people would also find a second home in Taiwan and help to enhance bilateral friendship.