Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Ljaucu Zingrur, acting as President Lai Ching-te’s special envoy, delivered a letter of congratulation to President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau Sept. 29 in the run-up to celebrations of the Pacific ally’s 30th independence day.
Ljaucu thanked Whipps for supporting Taiwan’s participation in international arenas. The minister said that Taiwan’s Indigenous people share deep cultural connections with the people of Palau, adding that he looks forward to further strengthening tribal exchanges and reinforcing bilateral ties on the foundation of the two sides’ 25th anniversary of official ties.
In response, Whipps said that one of the U.N. mandates is that every voice counts, and the people of Taiwan must not be excluded. He pledged to seek more cooperation opportunities for the two countries.
According to the council, it worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to hold a banquet. Attendees including Palau’s president, the Minister of State Gustav Aitaro and traditional leaders enjoyed a performance by NaLuWan Dance Troupe.
The CIP called the visit a key part of promoting relations with Austronesian countries, and noted that the minister called at the headquarters of the Austronesian Forum to inspect operations, which resumed in 2019 at the decision of its 13 members. The council said it will continue to boost the establishment of close relations between the two sides’ local governments and expand bilateral tribal collaborations across the board. (YCH-E)
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