RMI-ROC woman presidents meet

Minister John Silk, First Gentleman Tommy Kijiner, Jr., and President Hilda Heine give Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen handicrafts depicting friendship between the two countries.
Minister John Silk, First Gentleman Tommy Kijiner, Jr., and President Hilda Heine give Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen handicrafts depicting friendship between the two countries.

President Hilda Heine and First Gentleman Tommy Kijiner, Jr., left Majuro earlier this month with a delegation to attend the inauguration of Republic of China/Taiwan’s first woman President, Tsai Ing-wen.

The RMI delegation visit to Taiwan took place from May 16 to 21. President Heine and delegation also participated in bilateral meetings and other events while in Taiwan.

After the Taiwan visit, President Heine went to Guam on May 22, where she was the guest speaker at the University of Guam’s graduation ceremony.

Accompanying the President on this trip was RMI Foreign Minister John Silk and his wife Mary, Marshall Islands Mayors Ione deBrum of Ebon, Rufina Jack of Ailuk and Veronica Wase of Likiep, Consul Neijon Edwards of RMI Honolulu Consulate, Chris deBrum, Chief of Staff of the President’s Office, and Evelyn Lanki, protocol officer for the Office of the President.

The delegation returned in time for President Heine to deliver the keynote address to the College of the Marshall Islands’ graduation Tuesday afternoon this week.

Read more about this in the May 27, 2016 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.