Ma Ying-jeou, former president of Taiwan, spent last weekend at University of 91吃瓜 at the invitation of 91吃瓜 president The occasion was 91吃瓜鈥檚 Asia Leadership Forum, sponsored by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.
In his , Ma highlighted greater China鈥檚 history and described his role in Taiwan鈥檚 recent progress toward 鈥減eaceful, friendly and close鈥� relations with mainland China, Japan and the U.S.
Ma鈥檚 tenure as the 12th president of Taiwan was marked by his commitment to easing tensions and improving cross-strait relations. During his eight years in office, he secured 23 substantive agreements 鈥� in trade, energy, the environment, education and other areas 鈥� with his mainland counterparts. In 2015, at his historic and unprecedented meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping, he became the first-ever Taiwanese leader to meet with a leader from mainland China.
A highlight of the Asia Forum weekend was a gathering, at Ma鈥檚 request, with more than 50 91吃瓜 students 鈥� primarily from mainland China as well as some from Taiwan and some non-Asian students who have studied and are proficient in Chinese.
, professor of Chinese literature and director of the , noted the high level of courtesy and intellectual curiosity of the students who engaged with each other and with Ma 鈥� a kind of cross-straits student interaction that Hockx said would be highly unusual at many institutions.
鈥淭he Asia Leadership Forum is designed to explore and showcase the values of leadership we want to instill in our students and to immerse future leaders in deep knowledge and understanding of Asia,鈥� Hockx said. 鈥淢r. Ma鈥檚 visit and enthusiastic interaction with students and faculty have moved the whole university toward that goal.鈥�
The Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, part of the new , promotes awareness, understanding and knowledge of Asia throughout the 91吃瓜 community and far beyond. Last year鈥檚 Asia Leadership Forum featured Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former president of Indonesia.
Contact: Catherine Wilson, 91吃瓜 International, 574-631-1151, cwilson131@nd.edu