Vice President Chen delivers remarks before departing for Palau
Vice President Chen Chien-jen departed on the morning of December 28 on a trip to the Republic of Palau to attend celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Palau. In remarks issued before boarding the aircraft, the vice president explained that besides representing the government and people of Taiwan in celebrating the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties, he will also meet with Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. to thank him for speaking out on Taiwan's behalf in international venues for many years. The vice president will inspect our achievements in helping Palau develop their livestock industry, and also take advantage of this rare opportunity to visit the front lines and thank our diplomatic personnel, technical mission staff stationed abroad, and Taiwanese expatriates for their efforts and contributions to Taiwan diplomacy.
A translation of the vice president's remarks follows:
I am traveling to the Republic of Palau today as President Tsai's special envoy, together with my wife, to attend celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Palau. Thank you all for taking the time to come out and send us off.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of official diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the Republic of Palau, which began on December 29, 1999. Since then, we have maintained close, friendly, and stable diplomatic relations. We have also cooperated closely on health care, agriculture, education, and infrastructure projects, with outstanding results.
This past March, Palau was the first stop during President Tsai's Oceans of Democracy state visits. Our Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Icyang Parod (夷將．拔路兒) both served as special envoys this year, leading their respective delegations to attend important activities in Palau. Palau's Vice President Raynold Oilouch and Minister of State Faustina Rehuher-Marugg also led their respective delegations to visit Taiwan this past July and October. Frequent reciprocal visits like these are a testament to our close bilateral relationship.
During this visit to Palau, besides representing the government and people of Taiwan in celebrating the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties, I will also meet with Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. to thank him for speaking out on Taiwan's behalf in international venues for many years. At the General Debate of the UN General Assembly this past September, President Remengesau urged the international community to recognize the rights of Taiwan's 23 million people. His appeal was both powerful and touching.
I will be representing the Taiwan government to inspect our achievements in helping Palau develop their livestock industry. I will also take advantage of this rare opportunity to visit the front lines, and thank our diplomatic personnel, technical mission staff stationed abroad, and Taiwanese expatriates for their efforts and contributions to Taiwan diplomacy.
As we mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Palau, we can all look forward to the continued deepening of our friendly bilateral ties, and hope that our cooperative projects and exchanges will continue to bring well-being to the people in both countries.
And finally, I want to thank you all again for coming to see us off, look forward to a smooth and successful journey, and wish all of you the best of health and happiness. Thank you!
Among those at the airport to see Vice President Chen and the delegation off were Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Li-jey Tsao (曹立傑), and Nicaraguan Ambassador to Taiwan William Manuel Tapia Alemán (head of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan).