Ma outlines results of Latin American visit

2015/07/21

President Ma Ying-jeou said July 18 that his visit to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Nicaragua succeeded in boosting bilateral ties and mutual understanding.

“The eight-day trip helped bolster relations between the ROC and its diplomatic allies, as well as further cementing friendships between myself and the respective heads of state,” Ma said.

The president made the remarks upon arrival at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport after leading a delegation comprising government officials and business leaders to Latin America.

According to Ma, strong ties between the ROC and Dominican Republic are underscored by the successful operations of a care center for special-needs children. “When four similar facilities are completed in the near future, they will assist in developing the Dominican Republic into a regional leader when it comes to providing integrated care for such minors,” he said.

Other examples include helping the Caribbean nation in boosting rice production. “As a result of ROC agricultural technical missions, the country has been self-sufficient since 2003 and began exporting rice two years later.”

The president also delivered a speech at the Dominican Congress highlighting the current state of two-way exchanges, the ROC government’s policymaking on trade and foreign affairs, as well as cross-strait relations.

During the trip to Haiti, Ma was joined by his Haitian counterpart Michel Joseph Martelly in inaugurating a supreme court building. The facility in capital Port-au-Prince was constructed with ROC assistance and represents a real achievement in joint cooperation since breaking ground during the president’s first visit to the country in August 2013.

Ma also reaffirmed ROC commitment to Haiti’s post-disaster construction, pledging to enhance bilateral collaboration in agriculture, vocational education and solar energy.

While in Nicaragua, Ma met with his Nicaraguan counterpart Daniel Ortega and discussed the state of bilateral relations. He also agreed to consider Ortega’s request for assistance with irrigation and port projects, instructing government officials to conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine the kind of support the ROC can offer.

With stopovers in Boston and Los Angeles on the outbound and inbound legs of his trip, Ma took advantage of the opportunities to exchange views on issues of mutual concern with 26 members of the U.S. Congress in face-to-face or telephone meetings.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=232776&ctNode=413)