He arrived yesterday evening and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou had a very full day of activities today. His schedule was centered around Belmopan where he participated in a number of events. It started with a meeting with the Governor General followed by a ceremonial handover of the key to the capital by Mayor Simeon Lopez.
After that, President Ma was escorted into the National Assembly Building where he addressed a joint sitting of the House and the Senate. In his twenty minute address President Ma celebrated the twenty years of diplomatic ties between Belize and Taiwan, but noted that his country long criticized as practicing “dollar diplomacy” is moving towards a new model based on a new spirit of cooperation with Taiwan’s long time nemesis mainland China. President Ma calls it a flexible model – but what will it mean for Taiwan’s allies, who rely on Ma’s country for economic aid and assistance? He outlined his plan.
President Ma Ying-Jeou,
“We can normalize our economic relations. This is the first step to enduring peace and prosperity between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. So another important step we are going to embark upon is to sign an economic cooperation framework agreement with the mainland to be negotiated and possibly signed within the next year. The idea is again a very important step to normalize the economic relations between the two sides to usher in an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.
I have adopted a policy of flexible diplomacy that will bring to an end
the vicious competition between the mainland China and Taiwan in the past 60 years and in the international arena. In a process it will further diffuse the cross-strait tensions, stability and prosperity in East Asia. I cannot overemphasize that with the improvement of cross strait relations, Taiwan’s relations with its diplomatic allies will not only remain as strong as ever but also reach new heights.”
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
“Mr. President we are very delighted that you are able to visit with us. We consider it a signal honour that you chose Belize as your first stop in Central America, that you are making this state visit in a way that certainly signals your special appreciation for the relations between our two countries. It seems to me that even the earth was moved to pay homage to you.
We are able to joke about this matter of course because fortunately we were spared any but minimal damage in consequence of the earthquake. I do not know of any death. I understand that one senior citizen did expire and it may have been a as a matter of shock, as a matter of fright in consequence of the earthquake. But that’s yet to be confirmed. In any event we are as a nation extremely thankful to Almighty God that we were spared any unduly serious consequences.”
