Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the evening of July 27, President Tsai Ing-wen, joined by Vice President Chen Chien-ren and his wife, hosted a state banquet at the Presidential Office Building for a visiting delegation from the Republic of the Marshall Islands led by President Hilda C. Heine and her husband. President Tsai expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality that the Marshall Islands extended to her delegation during her trip to visit Taiwan's Pacific allies last year. President Tsai also expressed hope that through diverse exchanges and frequent interactions, the two nations will create possibilities for even greater cooperation. 

In remarks, President Tsai said that since assuming office over two years ago, this was her third meeting with President Heine, and each encounter left a deep impression on her. In particular, during her first trip to Taiwan's Pacific allies last year, her visit to the Marshall Islands gave her an opportunity to personally interact with President Heine. President Tsai reiterated her gratitude for the warm hospitality she received in the Marshall Islands, and welcomed President Heine as the leader of another delegation to Taiwan. President Tsai then extended a special welcome to Mr. Thomas Kijiner, Jr., President Heine's husband, and said that every encounter made it clear why people see him as President Heine's best supporter. 

President Tsai further noted that interactions between the two countries have yielded many achievements. During her trip to the Marshall Islands last year, she and President Heine established the Presidents' Scholarship Fund, strengthening bilateral educational cooperation. And this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs increased the number of Taiwan Scholarships allotted to Marshall Islands' students from six to 11.

President Tsai went on to say that in the future, her administration will continue to encourage even more Marshallese students to come to Taiwan for training, study, and exchanges. This will lead to greater mutual understanding between the younger generations in both countries.

Addressing tourism exchanges, the president said that this year Taiwan has organized special courses on culinary arts and hotel management for the first time. She expressed hope that the participants from the Marshall Islands will share the knowledge and skills they acquire in these courses with their fellow countrymen back home.

President Tsai further commended outgoing ROC Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Diann-wen Tang (唐殿文) for the wonderful job he has done in facilitating all these cooperation programs. She said she has every confidence that the new Ambassador Jeffrey S.C. Hsiao (蕭勝中) will continue the good work of our Embassy in Majuro, and enhance bilateral relations.

President Tsai voiced hope that through diverse exchanges and frequent interactions, the two nations can create possibilities for greater cooperation. She also wished President Heine and her delegation a pleasant and productive stay in Taiwan, and said that she looks forward to working with President Heine to continue bilateral cooperation and development efforts. 

President Tsai then invited the guests to join her in toasting the enduring partnership and future prosperity of both countries. 

President Heine then delivered remarks of her own, expressing gratitude to the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for the warm hospitality extended to her and her delegation since their arrival in Taiwan. She recalled President Tsai's visit to the Marshall Islands last year. At that time, she told President Tsai that the two countries, despite being separated by vast expanses of ocean, share common traditions and similar cultures from the Austronesian heritage dating back thousands of years. It should not surprise anyone, she said, that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands will continue to enjoy the strengthened and cordial relations and improve dialogue for years because of closer people-to-people ties. The common Austronesian heritage, she said, has made it so much easier for the governments of the two countries to work together. 

President Heine stated that her government will continue to support Taiwan's inclusion in important international organizations, including the Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations. She then reiterated her unwavering support for the government and people of Taiwan. As global and regional security are inseparable, President Heine said she agrees with President Tsai's comment that global security can't be achieved if smaller and less militarily powerful countries continue to be intimidated and coerced by more powerful ones. She said that as military security can't be enjoyed without economic security, Taiwan definitely has a crucial role to play in the Asia-Pacific region.

President Heine then raised the issue of women empowerment, adding that during President Tsai's trip to the Marshall Islands last year, they discussed the issue. They agreed that there is a need to convene a women leaders’ forum to address ways to accelerate gender parity at all levels. This is important, she said, because without gender equality a country cannot reach its full potential.