Above: Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou and Haiti President Michel Martelly (Photo: OP Haiti)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou paid an official visit to Haiti on Tuesday, leading a large Taiwanese delegation.

The visit comes as part of a hemispheric tour by the Taiwanese leader.

The 24-hour trip to Haiti included talks with Haiti President Michel Martelly, who said Ma’s visit “reflects once again the commitment of the authorities and the people of Taiwan to the Haitian people.”

During a joint press conference with Martelly, Ma said Taiwan would consider investing in southern Haiti, including in the country’s tourism sector.

The conference followed bilateral talks between Martelly and Ma about “new directions for cooperation” and a “monitoring of commitments made by the authorities of both countries,” according to a statement from the National Palace.

The two leaders also laid the first stone on the construction of a new building for Haiti’s Supreme Court.

Taiwan is funding the construction of the facility.