The government and people of Taiwan extended the deepest condolences on the passing of former Tuvalu Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoaga, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dec. 21.
Taiwan’s Ambassador to Tuvalu Su Jen-chung has expressed regrets to Sopoaga’s family while conveying the government’s appreciation for the prime minister’s efforts in deepening friendship between the two sides, the MOFA said. Su also attended the state funeral held Dec. 22 in the Indo-Pacific ally, the ministry added.
The MOFA said it has expressed its sorrow to Limasene Teatu, Tuvalu’s ambassador to Taiwan.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA added that Sopoaga would be long remembered for his leadership, efforts to develop the Pacific country and support for Taiwan.
This follows a tweet by the Permanent Mission of Tuvalu to the U.N. announcing the country’s mourning for Sopoaga, who served as prime minister from 2002 to 2004 and was chairman of the Public Service Commission at the time of his death.
Taiwan and Tuvalu established official ties in 1979, with bilateral cooperation projects spanning such areas as agriculture, clean energy, health care and infrastructure. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw