HAITI-TAIWAN/MA YING-JEOU Taiwan's Ma meets Haitian president during Latin American tour

Record ID: 147170

  • Title: HAITI-TAIWAN/MA YING-JEOU Taiwan's Ma meets Haitian president during Latin American tour
  • Date: 15th July 2015
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF MARTELLY AND MA
  • Embargoed: 30th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Haiti
  • Country: Haiti
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAANT9MYO4Q3YSPGW4N4UG670FU
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou held a bilateral meeting with Haiti's Michel Martelly during an official visit to the Caribbean country on Tuesday (July 15).
    Ma, who first visited Haiti in 2013, toured Haiti's National Pantheon Museum in Port-Au-Prince, where he witnessed the narrative account of Haitian history.
    The two presidents later led the inauguration and ribbon cutting of the building housing Haiti's Supreme Court, called the Court of Cassation, which was funded by Taiwan at a cost of over 15 million dollars.
    Ma said he was pleased to see the progress that had been made in the two years since the construction project began.
    "I am honoured to respond to President Martelly with another visit to Haiti today. I can recall during my first visit in August 2013, at the same site right here, where we put the first stone for the construction of the high court. It is a big joy to come back 23 months later for the inauguration of the building and to witness together the accomplishment of a new symbol of our solidarity and collaboration," he said.
    The two heads of state also held talks in the National Palace regarding issues pertaining to bilateral cooperation.
    Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, was devastated by a 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless.
    Taipei sent $5 million in aid to its diplomatic ally, one of only 23 mostly small impoverished nations that still has diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
    Ma said he was proud to.
    "Mr President, we are the best friends in the world and I will guarantee to you that we will stay as best friends. We are going to support you. We will be on your side to reconstruct the country to make sure the people are returning home rapidly," he said.
    Beijing has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since 1949, when Communist forces won the Chinese civil war, and has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary.
    Haiti was Ma's second stop of an eight-day trip through Central America and the Caribbean. Prior to arriving in Haiti, Ma visited the Dominican Republic where he held bi-lateral meetings with President Danilo Medina.
    Following his visit to Haiti, Ma will travel to Nicaragua before heading home via the United States.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
Register