President Tsai Ing-wen arrived Nov. 1 in the Solomon Islands following visits to Tuvalu and Marshall Islands during her eight-day official trip to three Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies in the Pacific.
Upon touching down at the international airport outside capital Honiara, Tsai was welcomed by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and other senior government officials. The two leaders took a military honor guard salute before the president greeted enthusiastic well-wishers and members of the Taiwan expatriate community awaiting her arrival in the terminal.
Tsai, who is spending two days in the Solomon Islands, will meet Nov. 2 with Sogavare and Governor General Frank Ofagioro Kabui. She is also scheduled to witness the signing of a bilateral agreement on police cooperation, address the country’s parliament and inspect bilateral agricultural and medical projects.
Earlier in the day, the president visited Tuvalu and met with Prime Minister Enele S. Sopoaga and Governor General Iakoba Taeia Italeli. Tsai also visited Nauti Primary School and Princess Margaret Hospital, where she was briefed on a medical cooperation project implemented by Chung Shan Medical University Hospital based in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City.
Prior to attending a state banquet in her honor, the president delivered an address lauding the strength of ROC-Tuvalu relations since the two nations established official ties 38 years ago.
In addition to sharing the universal values of democracy and human rights, the ROC and Tuvalu are pursuing a range of cooperative projects spanning agriculture, culture, green energy and health and medical care, Tsai said. It is expected the two countries will continue working together and advancing the bilateral relationship, she added.
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)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw