President Ma Ying-jeou responded to Pope Francis’s 2016 World Peace Day message on January 1. Ma’s response was posted on the official website of the presidential office on Tuesday.
Ma expressed his respect for the pope’s message that was titled “Overcome Indifference and Win Peace”. Pope Francis was calling for all people to be united and to create a loving, compassionate world to deal with global selfishness and indifference.
Ma pointed out that Taiwan is a peace-loving country. Since he took office in 2008, he has been working hard to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait. He has done much to improve cross-strait relations. Moreover, he was able to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2015 in Singapore. Ma said it was a historical milestone to tell the world that it is possible for cross-strait leaders to establish peace and put aside differences through dialogue. He said Taiwan has set a positive example for the Asia Pacific region and other regions in the world. Cross-strait relations and stability are at their best in the last 66 years. President Ma said he believes that stable cross-strait ties will help China become more liberalized.
Ma said Taiwan has maintained close ties with the Vatican for 73 years. Both sides have shared common values of democracy, freedom, and peace. President Ma said Taiwan will continue to respond to the pope’s call and be a peacemaker and humanitarian aid provider.