The election of David Kabua as president of Taiwan’s Indo-Pacific ally Marshall Islands is warmly welcomed by the government and people, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jan. 6.
Kabua, a seasoned politician and former cabinet minister, won the top job after defeating incumbent Hilda C. Heine 20-12 with one abstention in a parliamentary vote earlier the same day. Heine was thanked by the MOFA for her outstanding leadership, as well as firm friendship and staunch support for Taiwan over the years.
Jeffrey S. C. Hsiao, ambassador of the ROC (Taiwan) to Marshall Islands, told Kabua he expects bilateral ties to continue going from strength to strength, and looks forward to the arrival of a delegation led by MOFA Deputy Minister Hsu Szu-chien to celebrate the victory.
In response, Kabua pledged to deepen friendship and exchanges with Taiwan while advancing cooperation in areas of mutual concern.
The MOFA said Taiwan and Marshall Islands enjoy an excellent official relationship dating back 21 years. This healthy state of affairs is evidenced by an array of successful joint projects benefiting the people and promoting inclusive prosperity throughout the region, the ministry added.
Examples include an economic cooperation agreement and pacts pertaining to Austronesian languages and cultural affairs, policing and strategic cooperation. The ECA, signed in the presence of Presidents Tsai Ing-wen and Heine last October in Taipei City, is enabling the countries to ramp up cooperation in fields like human resources, investment, services industry, technology, tourism and trade. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw