The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that the visit of President Hilda C. Heine and her delegation from the Republic of the Marshall Islands successfully concluded their trip to Taiwan on the evening of the 7th. The top-level officials of the two countries further deepened their 27-year long friendly relations, yielding fruitful outcomes.
President Heine’s visit to Taiwan included meetings with President Tsai, attending a state banquet, witnessing the signing of the “Sports Exchange Cooperation Intention Agreement,” “Memorandum of the President’s Scholarship Fund,” and maritime cooperation agreements between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands. President Tsai also awarded President Heine the highest honor of the Republic of China, the “Order of Brilliant Jade,” highlighting President Heine’s outstanding contributions to deepening the friendship between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands.
Moreover, during her visit, President Heine attended the dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and the briefing on investment opportunities in the Marshall Islands, received an honorary doctoral degree from National Chiayi University, visited the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum and the Indigenous Cultural Park, and attended the graduation ceremony of Marshallese students in Taiwan. These activities aimed to expand the diverse cooperation between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands in areas such as economy, trade, maritime affairs, education, sports, and culture, demonstrating the firm commitment to sustainable development and a close partnership between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands.
President Heine, during her meeting with President Tsai, mentioned, “This year marks the 27th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, and we are proud of the enduring and special friendship between us. This unique and lasting friendship is built on the common Austronesian culture, mutual respect for each other’s democratic systems, and a firm commitment to core values such as freedom, justice, and the rule of law, which further strengthens this friendship.”
The visiting delegation also included Chief Kabua, Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kenneth Kedi, Minister of Finance David Paul, and Chairman of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee Joe Balang, among others.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that the delegation departed Taiwan by plane on the evening of the 7th, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Li-kuo represented the Taiwanese government in seeing them off. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the friendship has been strong, and exchanges have become closer. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to promote the “Honored Country Project” under its “comprehensive diplomacy” policy to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands, further deepening the friendly ties between the two nations and jointly promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.