President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te held a virtual meeting with Palau’s Vice President and Minister of Justice J. Uduch Sengebau Senior and her delegation Aug. 31 in Taipei City, pledging to continue expanding bilateral ties.
Taiwan and Palau are both maritime countries known for their passionate people and commitment to freedom and democracy, Tsai said, adding that shared beliefs have allowed the allies to build a firm cooperative foundation across a wide range of fields.
At the invitation of the Palau government, a delegation from Taiwan took part in the Our Ocean Conference hosted by the ally in April, while coast guard vessels from both countries carried out joint security operations during the event, marking a new milestone in maintaining Indo-Pacific peace, security and stability, she said.
Tsai said the government and people are deeply grateful to Palau for consistently voicing support for Taiwan’s global participation. As the world enters the post-pandemic era, the two sides will cooperate more closely to contribute to the global community, she added.
In response, Sengebau expressed gratitude on behalf of her government and people for Taiwan’s engagement in key sectors spanning agriculture, education, fisheries, health, justice and security.
The VP also praised Taiwan as a leader in promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality, citing the close to 50 percent female representation in national congress.
There are 65 Palau students studying in Taiwan, Sengebau said, adding that this academic investment will contribute to the continued stability and security of her country.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this was Sengebau’s first Taiwan visit since taking office in January 2021. Highlights of the five-day stay included signing two bilateral agreements and one memorandum of understanding on cooperation in disaster resilience building, criminal justice and forensic science, the ministry said. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw