President Ma Ying-jeou met with former United States Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao at the Presidential Office on the morning of October 26. The president extended a warm welcome to Ms. Chao, who is making a special trip to Taiwan to speak at the invitation of National Taiwan University and Fu Jen Catholic University.
President Ma commented that Ms. Chao served as the head of a US federal government cabinet-level agency longer than any other ethnic Chinese American, having served as Secretary of Labor for eight years. She vacated the position in January of this year when President George W. Bush's term ended. Ms. Chao is a highly respected public official, President Ma remarked. She has been awarded over 30 honorary doctorate degrees and is an idol among many young Chinese Americans. Ms. Chao's father, Dr. James S. C. Chao, is a legendary figure, having made a name for himself in the shipping industry. In 1958 he scored the highest on an exam to obtain a license as a first class captain, earning him the nickname of "The Scholarly Captain."
President Ma furthermore noted that after graduating from Mount Holyoke College, Ms. Chao continued her studies at Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She also earned an M.B.A. from Harvard University. Ms. Chao served as Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Deputy Administrator of the Maritime Administration, and held other important posts as well, he said, noting that she is highly respected in the ethnic Chinese community in the United States. Ms. Chao also regularly takes part in public service activities and previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of America. She personally made donations to the relief effort after flooding and landslides in southern Taiwan in early August, expressing her concern for persons impacted by the disaster, the president said.
President Ma said that he met Ms. Chao when he previously served as Taipei City Mayor, adding that the two maintain a friendly relationship. He noted that during her tenure as Secretary of Labor, Ms. Chao consistently paid close attention to relations between Taiwan and the United States and maintained close contact with Taiwan's representative office in the United States. The president commented that she has made a special trip to Taiwan at the invitation of National Taiwan University and Fu Jen Catholic University to share her successful experience with youth here, adding that he is certain that everyone will learn a lot from her.