President Ma Ying-jeou praised the healthy state of ROC-Palau relations Aug. 22, pledging to bolster exchanges between the two nations across every sector.
“The ROC and Palau share a longstanding friendship and I wish to thank our West Pacific ally for supporting efforts to expand Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations,” Ma said.
The president made the remarks after receiving the credentials of Peter R. Adelbai, Palau’s new ambassador to the ROC, at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
Ma said he and his Palau counterpart Johnson Toribiong, a former ambassador to the ROC, have left no stone unturned in boosting bilateral relations over the years, and that the appointment of Adelbai illustrates the importance Toribiong places on these ties.
ROC-Palau relations span a variety of areas such as agriculture, aquaculture, culture, education, health care and vocational training, the president said, adding that people-to-people exchanges are vibrant, with increasing number of direct two-way flights and tourist arrivals.
Ma said that during his first state visit to Palau two years ago, he was deeply impressed by the island nation’s natural beauty and friendly people. He also praised the Palau government’s ecological conservation program, which played a key role in transforming the country into a top Pacific tourism destination.
The ROC and Palau established diplomatic relations in 1999. (JSM)
Write to Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw