Taiwan President Vows to Help Tuvalu Combat Rising Seas‏

Here's an article about Ma Ying-Jeou's trip to Tuvalu...

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou promised to continue to assist the south Pacific nation of Tuvalu combat the threat of rising sea levels and global warming during a brief visit Tuesday. Ma arrived at Funafuti International Airport at 11 am local time (7 am Taiwan time) with 36 members of his entourage, including over 20 journalists, on a chartered Air Vanuatu ATR-72 500 turboprop passenger aircraft.

The Taiwan president was greeted by Acting Governor General Kamuta Latasi, who is also speaker of the Tuvalu Parliament, at the parliament building next to the airport. After the introductory remarks, the community of Nukufetau, one of the nine coral atolls that make up Tuvalu, performed for the guests. Besides apologizing for the late arrival due to a delayed takeoff from Kiribati, Ma described the atoll as a necklace of shells floating on the sea and said he was grateful to be invited to visit this paradise.

During his four hour visit, Ma gave volleyballs and soccer balls to students of the Nauti Primary School, heard a briefing on the impact of rising sea levels and climatic change on the island state by the Tuvalu environmental minister, issued invitations to 15 Tuvalu citizens to attend a training course in Taiwan to be regional fishing observers, held discussions with Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia and was feted at a state banquet in the covered patio in which the parliament meets.

In the bilateral discussion, the Tuvalu prime minister expressed gratitude to Taiwan`s assistance on fishery, agriculture, education and other fields since establishing ties in 1979 and also told the Taiwan president that the impact of greenhouse gases crisis is extremely great in Tuvalu. In turn, Ma said Taiwan was grateful for Tuvalu`s support for its efforts to enter international organizations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change and Tuvalu`s contribution of US$210,000 to Taiwan in the wake of the ``August 8`` flood disaster after Typhoon Morakot.

Ma said Tuvalu`s contribution of the equivalent of one percent of its gross domestic product was world breaking. During an address to the parliamentarians, Ma stated that ``we all know Tuvalu is threatened by rising sea levels`` and promised that Taiwan "is willing to participate in implementing projects to respond to rising sea levels to help ensure the security of life." Ma related that he had just learned that both Japan and Australia are carrying out research into methods to improve the living environment of local residents and avoid further worsening of erosion due to rising seas, including "floating residence" and other creative urban planning methods and said Taiwan was willing to participate in such research.

After the state banquet, the parliamentarians and other guests were entertained by a performance of Taiwan indigenous peoples dance by the Formosa Aboriginal Song and Dance Troupe and rousing performance of the traditional Fatele by a community dance and chorus group from Nukufetau island. Ma ended the visit in high spirits by joining in the dance, surrounded by two lines of women in red blouses and grass skirts and two lines of men in grass skirts, to the cheers of the Tuvalu audience, together with Foreign Minister Timothy Yang and other officials.

Ma and his delegation departed Tuvalu at nearly 3 pm (11 am Taiwan time) on the Air Vanuata ATR-172 and arrived at Nauru International Airport shortly after 6 pm where the Taiwan president was met by Nauru President Marcus Stephen.

From: Request News