The annual executive council meeting of the Austronesian Forum was held Nov. 23 in Taipei City, spotlighting the Taiwan government’s dedication to advancing concerns of Austronesian peoples across the Indo-Pacific.
Organized by Cabinet-level Council of Indigenous Peoples, the event was attended by delegates from 14 Pacific countries and territories, including Marshall Islands Ambassador to Taiwan Neijon Rema Edwards, Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Jordan Reeves, Australian Office Taipei Deputy Rep. Michael Googan and Papua New Guinea Trade Office in Taiwan Rep. Tommy Kambu Kunji.
Also participating via videoconference were Palau’s Queen Bilung Gloria Salii and forum Deputy Secretary-general Uroi Salii.
During his opening remarks, CIP Minister Icyang Parod said the in-person gathering is a testament to Taiwan’s remarkable success managing COVID-19, which has enabled forum members to discuss important issues relating to the Austronesian community while contributing to regional development.
According to the minister, the government attaches great importance to preserving Taiwan’s Austronesian heritage, as evidenced by the six-year plan approved by the Executive Yuan last year.
In addition to supporting the Austronesian Forum, the NT$740 million (US$25.69 million) plan funds projects aimed at preserving Austronesian cultures and languages, as well as promoting industrial and human resources development, he said.
While many programs under the forum were put on hold because of the pandemic, a raft of initiatives have still yielded great results, Icyang said. These include the International Indigenous Economic Development Forum held last December in the northern city of Taoyuan, during which 29 speakers from nine countries shared their experiences in fostering industrial competitiveness of Austronesian countries.
Equally impressive was the 2020 Cultivation Program of Young Talents for International Affairs staged this July in the southern county of Chiayi for 41 trainees from home and abroad, the minister added.
The meeting also selected Marshall Islands as the location for the forum’s general assembly scheduled for the second half of 2021, according to the CIP.
Initiated by Taiwan and headquartered in Palau, the forum includes allies Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu, as well as Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and U.S. state Hawaii, with Central American ally Belize participating as an observer. (SFC-E).
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