President Ma Ying-jeou met with Haitian President Michel Martelly during a state visit to Haiti on Tuesday.
Ma attended the inauguration of Haiti’s new supreme court building, which Taiwan helped to rebuild following a devastating earthquake in 2010.
During the ceremony, Haiti’s president offered prayers for the victims of an explosion in New Taipei, which killed five and left several hundreds in critical condition.
Later at a press conference, Ma said that Haiti had faced difficulties recovering from the quake that leveled the capital city of Port-au-Prince. He said that Taiwan will continue to do all it can to assist Haiti as it rebuilds.
President Ma said that Taiwan is the world’s second largest producer of solar-powered lighting, which can be of assistance to Haiti which has an abundance of sunlight. Ma said that solar energy can also help free Haiti from its reliance on diesel, which is expensive.
Meanwhile, Haiti’s President Martelly said the fruits of cooperation between Taiwan and Haiti are clearly visible. He said that Haiti has also voiced support for Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations, where Taiwan is often left unrepresented for political reasons.
President Ma was set to leave Haiti for Nicaragua on Wednesday, continuing his tour of three of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Caribbean and Central America.