Foreign Minister Lin hosts reception to mark 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Tuvalu
September 13, 2024
No. 302
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a reception at the Taipei Guest House on the afternoon of September 12 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Tuvalu. An eight-member delegation from Tuvalu led by Speaker of the Tuvaluan Parliament Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli and his wife attended the event.
In his remarks, Minister Lin welcomed Speaker Italeli on behalf of the government of Taiwan. He noted that Tuvalu was Taiwan’s longest-standing Pacific ally. Since establishing their diplomatic alliance in 1979, the two nations had realized remarkable achievements in bilateral cooperation in such areas as agriculture, fisheries, public health and medicine, clean energy and climate change, and ICT. Minister Lin stated that Taiwan had recently joined forces with like-minded countries to implement the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project to enhance Tuvalu’s climate change resilience. He added that Taiwan was working with the United States, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand to connect Tuvalu to the Central Pacific Cable. Minister Lin said the project would give Tuvalu its first subsea cable connection, providing a secure, sustainable, and resilient internet communications system and boosting economic growth and social development.
Noting that Taiwan and Tuvalu shared the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights, Minister Lin thanked Tuvalu for its long-standing support of Taiwan’s efforts to expand participation in various international organizations. He said that the two countries were taina—which means “brothers” in Tuvaluan. Minister Lin stated that Taiwan cherished its friendship with Tuvalu and remained committed to deepening bilateral cooperation and assisting Tuvalu in achieving sustainable development.
Speaker Italeli remarked that Taiwan was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Tuvalu after it gained independence. He lauded the success that the two countries had achieved through years of cooperation across domains such as agriculture, medicine, infrastructure, sustainable energy, and climate change. The people of Tuvalu universally affirmed the contributions that Taiwan had made to social development, he said. Speaker Italeli stressed that Tuvalu valued its fraternal bonds with Taiwan and would continue to support Taiwan’s engagement in international organizations. He expressed a deep conviction that the two countries would build on the milestone of their 45 years of diplomatic relations to further improve the well-being of their peoples and promote the prosperous development of both countries.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang, who previously served as ambassador to Tuvalu, echoed Minister Lin in thanking Tuvalu for its staunch support of Taiwan’s international participation. He praised the culture of Tuvalu for being warm and hospitable as well as resolute and resilient, which earned an enthusiastic response from Speaker Italeli and the other Tuvaluan guests.
The cheerful and lively reception was also attended by Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi, who had been stationed in Tuvalu to provide medical services; Deputy Minister of Environment Shih Wen-chen; Deputy Minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples Calivat·Gadu; and representatives from various sectors who have assisted Taiwan in implementing bilateral cooperation projects in Tuvalu. In the warm and cordial atmosphere of the gathering, members of the visiting delegation performed traditional Tuvaluan songs while Minister Lin led colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other attendees in singing Taiwanese tunes. (E)
