President Ma arrived at Palau International Airport at 1:30 pm on Friday after a flight from the Solomon Islands on his last stop of a six day tour of the the Taiwan`s six Pacific diplomatic partners.
President Johnson Toribiong , Palau officials and a large crowd of Palau students and Taiwan nationals living in the country welcomed Ma at the airport.
Prior to the signing of the cooperation, Ma, his entourage and the Palauan officials drove to the Capitol to hold bilateral talks and conduct a gift exchange.
From the Capitol, Ma and Toribiong proceeded to Ngarachamayong Cultural Center.
The Capitol and the cultural center are among the infrastructure in the country built through the Taiwan government assistance.
The agreement was signed during the opening of the “Alii Taiwan“ exhibition of Taiwan indigenous people`s tradition and modern cultural crafts at the Ngarachamayang Cultural Center in Koror.
The exhibition features 33 items of traditional indigenous crafts and 63 items of modern handicrafts.
The indigenous cultural exhibition, which will run from March 26 to April 5, is being hosted by Taiwan`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the CIP and co-hosted by the CIP`s Bureau of Cultural Parks, the Belau National Museum and the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center and operated by the Taipei-based Bright Creative Inc.
Moreover, three Taiwan indigenous artists, namely Daluchalun Remereman of the Dragonfly Bead Art Studio, Yuli Taki of Miyagu Culture workshop and Haisulel of the Haisulel Culture Ceramics Studio, will not only display their artistic works and handicraft products, but will also hold handicraft workshops from March 27 to March 30.
After a performance by the Formosa Indigenous Song and Dance Troupe and remarks by the two presidents, an “Agreement on Cultural Cooperation“ was signed by Calivat Gadu, director – general of the Bureau of Cultural Parks of the Council of Indigenous Peoples and Demei O. Otobed, president of the board of trustees of Belau National Museum.
The agreement, which will last for five years, provides for reciprocal exchanges including indigenous academic personnel, cultural personnel, tourism, artists and art groups, publications, exhibitions and cooperation on arts, artifacts and other related themes.
The new agreement would allow Taiwan artifacts to be shown in Palau and some of Palau`s rich store of cultural artifacts can be shown in Taiwan and promote mutual inspiration.
During the state dinner held at the Palasia Hotel, Ma announced that the Taiwan government will increase the scholarship quota given by the Taiwan government to eligible Palauan students.
He said due to Palau and Taiwan’s proximity to each other, his government is considering putting up a regional and cultural center in Palau which can also be promoted in other Pacific ally countries.
“Over the 10 years, Palau and Taiwan’s relationship developed at a faster phase,” Ma said in his remarks delivered during the state dinner Friday.
The president said Taiwan will continue to host cultural and education exchanges with Palau.
President Johnson Toribiong for his part meanwhile said that Ma’s visit marks another milestone in the country’s diplomatic relationship with Taiwan.
Ma also attended the goodwill games between the Palau baseball team and the Ku-Pao team.
On Saturday, the Palau government hosted a trip to the famous Rock Islands and Jellyfish Lake.
Ma has returned to Taiwan Saturday night after completing a seven-day tour of all six of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies — the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, the Solomon Islands and Palau.
During his Pacific tour, Ma met and talked with his South Pacific counterparts on issues that concerned medical assistance, aquaculture, vocational training, agricultural cooperation, green energy and cultural exchanges.
His entourage included National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen, Presidential Office spokesman Lo Chih-chiang, Foreign Minister Timothy C.T. Yang, Government Information Office Minister Johnny Chi-chen Chiang, Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Sun Ta-chuan and Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Hu Sing-hwa.
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