Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu announced a US$56 million donation on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan and vowed the country would continue to stand with Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oct. 26.
The donation will be used to support Ukraine to rebuild schools, hospitals and fundamental infrastructure damaged or obliterated by Russia’s war of aggression, Wu said. Part of the amount will be used to continue Taiwan’s work with like-minded partners in Central and Eastern Europe for further reconstruction of Ukraine, he added.
Wu made the remarks during a MOFA-hosted Taiwan-Ukraine Friendship Reception at Taipei Guest House. Guests included Ukrainian parliamentarian Kira Rudik; Zygimantas Pavilionis, deputy chair of the Committee on European Affairs in the Lithuanian parliament; Lithuanian and Ukrainian lawmakers who participated in the World Movement for Democracy’s 11th Global Assembly Oct. 25-27 in Taipei City; representatives from Ukrainian nongovernmental organizations; and Ukrainian expatriates and students in Taiwan.
According to Wu, the government will also offer the Taiwan-Europe Connectivity Scholarship program for Ukrainian students to study and learn Mandarin in Taiwan. A task force under Taipei Representative Office in Poland will further Taiwan-Ukraine cooperation, he said.
During a pre-recorded video address, Yulia Klymenko, member of the Taiwan-Ukraine Parliament Members Friendship Association, said Taiwan and Ukraine strive to defend their independence and dignity. Ukraine is fighting for the democratic world and hopes to build a better future with like-minded partners such as Taiwan, she added.
Pavilionis pledged to help Ukraine to join the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization while vowing to defend Taiwan’s freedom and democracy.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “Friends from #Lithuania & #Ukraine enjoyed the banquet hosted by Minister Wu. We appreciate all the like-minded parliamentarians, academics & NGO workers who gathered in #Taiwan as a powerful symbol of solidarity among frontline democracies!” (YCH-E)
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