After the 1st Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit, which took place on September 4 in Koror City, Palau's capital, President Chen Shui-bian and the heads of state of six South-Pacific nations signed the Palau Declaration. In the declaration, signatory nations agreed to strengthen cooperation.
The heads of state attending the summit unanimously agreed that the common belief in democracy lays a solid foundation for the friendship between Taiwan and its Pacific allies, and that they will cooperate in social, cultural and economic developments as well as infrastructure construction. Through law enforcement training, digital government, tourism, economic partnership, health care, alternative energy, and agricultural and fishery cooperation, they will strengthen the oceanic democratic alliances and realize comprehensive partnerships.
The summit started with the priest's blessing and preliminary speeches delivered by each head of state. Then came several reports on special topics on health issues, regional situations and governments' capabilities.
In the declaration, Taiwan's allies highly praised Taiwan's achievements in economic and political developments and pledged to support Taiwan to participate in international and regional organizations.
Next year, the summit meeting will be held in Marshall Islands' capital Majuro.
The summit was attended by President Chen Shui-bian of the Republic of China (Taiwan), President Remengesau of Palau, President Note of Marshall Islands, President Tong of Kiribati, President Scotty of Nauru, Prime Minister Sogavare of Solomon Islands and Prime Minister Ielemia of Tuvalu.
The content of the Palau Declaration is as follows:
The First Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit
Palau Declaration
Strengthening Oceanic Democratic Alliances and Realizing Comprehensive Partnership
1. We, the heads of state and government representing the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Palau, the Solomon Islands, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Tuvalu, have met in Koror City, the capital of the Republic of Palau to commence the First Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit. H.E. Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, and H.E. Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China(Taiwan), co-hosted the summit.
2. The Leaders engaged in comprehensive discussions on cooperation, development, environmental preservation and other key issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The Leaders all agreed to vigorously pursue the four goals highlighted in the Pacific Plan, as adopted by Leaders at the 36th Pacific Islands Forum held in Papua New Guinea in October 2005: economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security. Strengthening cooperation and partnership between our countries continues to enhance prospects for the future prosperity of our region. Sincere gratitude was expressed to President Chen Shui-bian and the people and government of Taiwan for assisting its Pacific allies to pursue national and regional goals. The Leaders and their delegations also warmly thanked President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., the Republic of Palau and all of its citizens, for their hospitality at this important event.
3. The Leaders of Taiwan's Pacific allies strongly support Taiwan's achievements in political democratization and economic development. Taiwan's Allies acknowledge Taiwan as a sovereign nation whose right to participate in international organizations, such as the United Nations and World Health Organization, cannot be deprived. Taiwan's Allies committed to continuing their firm support of Taiwan's entitlement to undertake full involvement in international and regional organizations and initiatives.
4. In order to strengthen their friendship in line with their mutual democratic ideals, the Taiwan Allies' Leaders recommend enhanced cooperation in the areas of economic development, capacity building and society and culture. Through cooperation in the following areas, the aim to strengthen oceanic democratic alliances and comprehensive partnership can be achieved:
A. Law Enforcement Training: Additional or expanded programs are needed to detect and prevent money laundering and financing of terrorism, international trafficking of persons, illegal border crossings, people smuggling, and customs irregularities. Cooperation shall be coordinated to improve the practical training of each country's law enforcement or other relevant personnel and administration, relating both to land and sea.
B. Digital government: Taiwan shall assist its Allies to bridge the digital divide, in the private and public sector, through the cultivation of IT talent and the strengthening and modernization of IT infrastructure, through the enhancement of basic IT software and hardware.
C. Tourism: Each of the Allies would benefit from enhanced tourism industries. While each Taiwan Ally has different needs and challenges in this area, the Leaders agree to explore means and mechanisms for stimulating tourism, improving tourism alliances and focusing on environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism opportunities.
D. Healthcare: Participating leaders shall strive to fulfill the lofty ideal of health care transcending national borders, as upheld by the World Health Organization. The Leaders therefore affirm the success of the First Pacific Health Forum held in conjunction with this Summit. The Leaders also agree to establish a "Taiwan-Pacific Medical Alliance" to identify and implement long-term public health projects.
E. Protection of Natural Resources, Development of Domestic and Renewable energy: Taiwan looks forward to assisting its Allies to respond to escalating fuel prices and environmental degradation by enhancing the development of domestic and renewable energy sources, focusing on bio-fuel, solar, wind and hydro power, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion and other domestic energy resources. In addition, Leaders recognize that three of the six Taiwan Allies have already made extraordinary commitments to preserve precious natural resources, through the Micronesian Challenge (Republic of Palau and Republic of the Marshall Islands) and the setting aside by the Republic of Kiribati of the Phoenix Islands, as a marine protected area, the third largest in the world. Leaders agree to launch a Taiwan-Pacific Environmental Ministerial Meeting to discuss relevant issues and solutions, encouraging Taiwan Allies and others who have not done so, to make substantial and specific commitments to the conservation and sustainable management of marine and terrestrial resources, including accessing mechanisms for long-term financing commitments to preserve the environment for future generations.
F. Economic Partnership: Leaders agree to establish a business information exchange mechanism and promote bilateral trade and investment between Taiwan and its Allies. To fulfill this commitment, Taiwan shall designate additional commercial staff to the region.
G. Cooperation on Agriculture and Fishery: The Taiwan Allies agree that the agriculture and fisheries sectors need to be expanded in order to support tourism industries, enhance balances of trade and strengthen domestic food independence. To support this growing need, Taiwan commits to providing expanded technical assistance in agriculture and fisheries. In the area of agriculture, Taiwan agrees to assist each Ally to establish country agriculture development plans focusing on product development. In the area of fisheries, Taiwan agrees to launch the Taiwan-Pacific Forum on Constructive Fishery Partnership.
H. Preservation of Culture: In consideration of the cultural similarities and differences treasured by Taiwan and its Pacific Allies, Leaders agree to construct an Austronesian forum and relevant institutions to promote and encourage the research, preservation, education and innovation of common and diverse indigenous cultures.
5. To implement the various commitments of this Palau Declaration, Leaders agree to adopt the Action Plan. In the future, Leaders shall examine the progress and results of various cooperative projects annually, at the Taiwan/ROC Forum Countries Dialogue, and during each subsequent Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit.
6. We convey our most heartfelt appreciation to the Republic of the Marshall Islands for agreeing to hold the Second Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit in 2007 in Majuro.
Signed on September 4, 2006, in Koror, Republic of Palau
Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr.
President of the Republic of Palau
Chen Shui-bian
President of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Kessai H. Note
President of the Marshall Islands
Anote Tong
President of the Republic of Kiribati
Ludwig Scotty
President of the Republic of Nauru
Manasseh Sogavare
Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands
Apisai Ielemia
Prime Minister of Tuvalu