President Tsai holds state banquet and military send-off for Tuvalu Prime Minister Sopoaga
On the afternoon of October 13, President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Chen Chien-jen and his wife held a state banquet at the Presidential Office Building for Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sosene Sopoaga, his wife, and his delegation, and then bid farewell to the state guests with full military honors.
In remarks, President Tsai again welcomed Prime Minister Sopoaga and his delegation to Taiwan for a state visit, and remarked that, including this visit, Prime Minister Sopoaga has been to Taiwan 14 times. He is a friend who understands us quite well, the president said. In the previous few days the prime minister had visited Taichung and Tainan, and President Tsai expressed confidence that he and his delegation would now have a more comprehensive understanding of Taiwan's diverse history and culture.
The president pointed out that more and more young people from Tuvalu have come to deeply understand Taiwan in recent years, with 34 Tuvalu students now studying here under the Taiwan Scholarship program. For Tuvalu, with a population of only 11,000, these students are important talents needed for the country's sustainable development.
President Tsai also pointed out that young Taiwanese are going to Tuvalu to do technical work in such fields as education, healthcare, agriculture, and fisheries, or to serve as volunteers. They use social media to tell friends and family in Taiwan about their fascinating experiences in Tuvalu. As interactions between the people of the two countries increase, diplomatic ties will become even more stable, enhancing results in all areas of cooperation.
The president suggested that these interactions will bring innovative thinking to bilateral cooperation programs. For example, to support Prime Minister Sopoaga's policies emphasizing food security and nutrition, Taiwan's technical mission in Tuvalu periodically sells fresh fruits and vegetables cultivated at the "Garden of Hope," receiving much positive feedback.
The president also noted that this coming November, Taiwan will again hold a technical and vocational training course for diplomatic allies in the Pacific region. She said that students who come to Taiwan to participate in the training will acquire valuable technical skills, and after returning home, they can serve as seed teachers to spur economic growth, generate job opportunities, and do more to contribute to the country.
The president said that Taiwan has been called "Ilha Formosa"—the beautiful island—whereas Tuvalu has the lovely nickname "a string of pearls in the South Pacific." She expressed hope that she could visit Tuvalu as soon as possible to get a feel for what has been accomplished through long-term bilateral exchanges.
President Tsai then raised a glass with her guests to express her best wishes for a lasting friendship between the two countries.
After President Tsai's remarks, Prime Minister Sopoaga then delivered remarks of his own, stating that he was honored to attend the Republic of China's national day celebrations. On behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu, he wished Taiwan well and thanked our country for its assistance. Over the past several years, Taiwan has demonstrated to the world, through humanitarian aid and international participation, its values of democracy, rule of law, and human rights, and displayed its commitment and contributions to peace, security, and prosperity, reflecting the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations.
Prime Minister Sopoaga pointed out that to ensure peace and well-being for the world and humanity, the entire world must understand Taiwan's effort to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to learn from the experience. Accordingly, he asked Taiwan to work together with all island nations. "We are all in the same boat," he said.
Prime Minister Sopoaga stated that Taiwan plays an important role in international relations, and should get a commensurate degree of affirmation and serious attention. He expressed strong agreement with President Tsai's "Better Taiwan" vision, and expressed hope that Taiwan, Tuvalu, and all diplomatic allies would work together to improve. As for the plan to visit Tuvalu that President Tsai had just mentioned, he said that she would be very welcome.
During the banquet Prime Minister Sopoaga sang "A Song of Friendship between Taiwan and Tuvalu," which he personally wrote to symbolize the close friendship between the two countries, in an atmosphere of joy and harmony.
After the state banquet, a military send-off ceremony was held at 2:20 p.m. at the Entrance Hall of the Presidential Office Building. After a 19-gun salute and the playing of the two countries' national anthems, the president received the farewells of the Tuvalu delegation, and officials from Taiwan as well as the diplomatic corps in Taiwan expressed good wishes as they said goodbye to Prime Minister Sopoaga and his wife, in a ceremony both dignified and solemn.