A delegation led by Republic of Nauru President Baron Waqa visited the Control Yuan (CY) on the afternoon of December 10. The visitors met with the CY vice president Dr. Chen Jinn-lih and the chairperson of the CY International Affairs Committee Dr. Louis R. Chao.
It was President Waqa’s second visit to the CY. His previous visit was in May 2012, when he attended the CY staff exchange program with Asian-Pacific counterparts as a member of the Parliament and learned the functions and powers of the ROC control system.
Vice President Chen extended a warm welcome to the delegation and expressed his pleasure to meet again with Mr. Waqa as the President of Nauru. He firmly believed that the friendship between the two countries would be everlasting and welcomed more cooperation between the two sides on issues regarding ombudsman and human rights protection.
In his remarks, Dr. Chao recalled that he had wished Mr. Waqa success in the presidential election during their last meeting in 2012, and noted that this wish had come true. Dr. Chao believed that the work on establishment of ombudsman system in Nauru will make significant progress under President Waqa’s leadership.
President Waqa thanked the CY for its warm reception. He noted that he felt very pleased and relaxed when entering the CY building, describing it as a feeling of "returning home." The president also mentioned that he was impressed by the CY press conference on an impeachment case, which was included as one of the program activities in 2012. President Waqa hoped that Nauru could establish an ombudsman system within three years to improve human rights protection.
At the end of the meeting, President Waqa sang a traditional Nauruan song together with several delegates in praise of the deep friendship between the two sides. The voices filled the room with joy and warmth.
At the invitation of the ROC government, President Waqa visited Taiwan from December 5 to 10. During the visit to the CY, he was accompanied by the Ambassador of Nauru to the ROC Mr. Ludwig Keke and the Director-General of Department of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Richard R. C. Shih.