President Tsai Ing-wen said June 20 that Taiwan is committed to cooperating closely with Tuvalu to deepen friendship and expand exchanges for the benefit of the people on both sides.
Taiwan and Tuvalu are maritime nations known for the kindness and warmth of their people and bound by the universal values of freedom and democracy, Tsai said, adding that the island nation was also Taiwan’s first Pacific ally.
Tsai made the remarks while accepting the credentials of Bikenibeu Paeniu, Tuvalu’s new ambassador to the ROC (Taiwan), at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
According to the president, the two countries have been collaborating in core areas such as agricultural technology, clean energy, medicine, public health and talent cultivation.
Tsai said she witnessed firsthand the positive results of collaborative projects between the two sides during her November 2017 trip to the ally. The partners have also been working together to address the challenges of climate change, help realize the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and combat COVID-19, she added.
The president took the opportunity to thank Tuvalu for supporting Taiwan’s participation in global organizations, including the World Health Assembly and U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Such backing is greatly appreciated, she said.
In response, Paeniu said that during his 10 plus-year term as prime minister of Tuvalu, he witnessed the success of many bilateral projects. The new ambassador conveyed the sincere appreciation of his government and people for Taiwan’s longstanding support, adding that he hopes the cooperation between the true friends will continue to strengthen over the years to come. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw