[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 65 (Thursday, May 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PRESIDENT MA YING-JEOU'S THIRD ANNIVERSARY IN OFFICE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2011

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of President Ma Ying-
jeou's third anniversary in office this May 20, I wish to express my 
congratulations to the leaders and the people of the Republic of China.
  Mr. Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated as President of the Republic of 
China on May 20, 2008. During the last three years, Taiwan President Ma 
Ying-jeou has steadily and dramatically improved Taiwan's relations 
with the Chinese mainland. There are now 370 direct flights from cities 
in Taiwan to cities in China every week, relaxation of China-bound 
investments, more visas for mainland tourists and more exchange in many 
areas.
  Committed to pursue reconciliation with the People's Republic, 
President Ma believes in a systematized dialogue between the two sides, 
the development of healthy cross-strait relations and the advancement 
of regional peace and stability. He argues that Taiwan and the PRC can 
co-exist while maintaining their differences. A win-win situation, 
President Ma opines, is in the best interest of all Chinese people and 
the world. As a result of his vision, peace is prevailing in the Taiwan 
Strait today.
  Business is also good for both the Taiwanese and Chinese people. 
Taiwan and China inked the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement 
(ECFA) last summer and President Ma has restarted the institutionalized 
cross-strait talks. As Members of this body, we thank President Ma for 
his courage and wisdom in initiating and continuing a pragmatic and yet 
flexible approach in handling cross-strait relations.
  While cultivating a peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait, 
President Ma has also been working closely with the U.S. government. 
Our mutual relationship is strong and we applaud Taiwan's cooperation 
with us, especially in the war against global terrorism.
  We are confident that relations with Taiwan will grow even stronger 
in all areas, including trade, science and technology, educational 
exchange, military sales and Taiwan's participation in international 
agencies. For the last three years, U.S.-Taiwan relations have been 
excellent, far superior to any period in recent memory.
  I am pleased that Taiwan was once again invited to attend this year's 
World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland as an observer and I 
am hopeful that Taiwan's continued participation in the WHA will lead 
to Taiwan's participation in the activities of other international 
organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization 
(ICAO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 
(UNFCCC).
  In celebrating President Ma's third anniversary in office, I credit 
him for these successes and join with my colleagues in extending our 
best wishes to him for his continued success.

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