President Tsai Ing-wen said Oct. 31 that the Republic of China (Taiwan) attaches great importance to relations with Pacific diplomatic ally Marshall Islands and expects exchanges to continue expanding across a broad spectrum of areas.
Bilateral ties are going from strength to strength, particularly in the areas of agriculture, education, food security, health and medical care, and sustainable development, Tsai said. Great strides are also being made by the two nations in a number of cooperation projects, she added.
According to the president, these efforts underscore the spirit of the government’s steadfast diplomacy, which seeks to expand relations with diplomatic allies and partners on the basis of mutual assistance for mutual benefits. In line with this approach, Taiwan will soon offer visa-free entry to citizens of the ROC’s six Pacific diplomatic allies, she said.
Tsai made the remarks while addressing the Marshall Islands parliament. During the speech, she thanked the legislative body for its firm backing of Taiwan, citing a resolution passed in August 2016 on strengthening the bilateral relationship.
The president also stated her sincere appreciation to Marshall Islands President Hilda C. Heine for staunchly supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in global organizations such as International Civil Aviation Organization, U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and World Health Assembly.
The day before, Tsai met with Heine and witnessed the signing of two memorandums of understanding on a presidential scholarship program for Marshall Islands youths and cooperation on immigration affairs and human trafficking.
The president is visiting the Marshall Islands as part of an eight-day official trip to three ROC diplomatic allies in the region. She is scheduled to depart Nov. 1 for Tuvalu and meet with Prime Minister Enele S. Sopoaga and Governor General Iakoba Taeia Italeli.
Next stop is the Solomon Islands, where Tsai’s itinerary includes meetings with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Governor General Frank Ofagioro Kabui, as well as addressing the country’s parliament and inspecting bilateral agricultural and medical cooperation projects.
According to the Office of the President, Tsai will stop over in the U.S. territory of Guam before returning Nov. 4 to Taiwan. (SFC-E)
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