President Tsai Ing-wen said Jan. 9 that the government is committed to strengthening relations between Taiwan and Tuvalu to promote the two countries’ sustainable development while contributing to progress and prosperity around the world.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic over the past few years, the two sides have continued to deepen cooperation across the board, Tsai said. This is evidenced by the many Tuvaluan students who have come to Taiwan to study through the Taiwan Scholarship program and Prime Minister Kausea Natano’s visit to Taiwan last September, she added.
Tsai made the remarks while receiving the Pacific ally’s delegation led by Samuelu Penitala Teo, speaker of the country’s Parliament.
According to Tsai, Taiwan and Tuvalu have reached a firm consensus on clean energy collaboration and will work together to achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Teo is also set to sign a joint statement with Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun during the visit to strengthen bilateral parliamentary cooperation and exchanges.
Tsai also took the opportunity to thank Teo and the government of Tuvalu for backing Taiwan through concrete action, including voicing support for the country’s international participation at global events like the United Nations General Assembly and World Health Assembly.
In response, Teo said Tuvalu has received extensive support from Taiwan both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of medical equipment and financial resources, adding that this demonstrates Taiwan’s ability to help the world address global crises. (DL-E)
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