President Ma Ying-jeou met with Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly on Tuesday and said the two countries hold similar values of democracy and rule of law. Ma greeted Martelly with military honors at Liberty Square in Taipei before meeting with him at the presidential office.
The two heads of state signed a joint communiqué to strengthen ties.
Taiwan has been providing aid to Haiti’s post-quake reconstruction and supporting the reconstruction of its Supreme Court. Last year, President Ma attended the court’s opening ceremony and said he was impressed with the similar values that Haiti and Taiwan share.
“Haiti is ruled by law, so the Supreme Court building was a priority among the dozens of government buildings that collapsed. This is an important message, and it shows that the country values democracy and rule of law,” said Ma.
The Haitian government expressed its gratitude for Taiwan’s aid. Martelly also praised how Ma has improved cross-strait relations. Ma thanked the Haitian government for its support and said Taiwan would continue to aid Haiti in its reconstruction.