Vice President Lai to lead delegation to the Republic of Palau
On the afternoon of October 24, the Presidential Office held a press conference to announce that Vice President Lai Ching-te will lead a delegation to our diplomatic ally the Republic of Palau for three days and two nights from November 1-3. President Tsai Ing-wen expressed hope that the delegation will achieve three major objectives regarding our bilateral and international connections, tourism, and cooperation.
Presidential Office Spokesperson Xavier Chang (張惇涵) opened the press conference by explaining the purpose of this trip. He noted that over the past two years as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, countries around the globe imposed border restrictions that impacted international travel and exchanges, seriously affecting our diplomatic ally the Republic of Palau, a country world-renowned for its tourism sector. The spokesperson stated that after more than two years, border restrictions are easing in many countries, and that thanks to the unity our people have shown in fighting the pandemic, Taiwan reopened its borders on October 13 – a major stride toward resuming normal life.
Spokesperson Chang mentioned that when President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of Palau came to Taiwan on a state visit early this month, he expressed to President Tsai and our government agencies his hope to continue deepening Taiwan-Palau cooperation in tourism as well as our exchanges in other areas in the post-pandemic era. President Whipps also invited President Tsai to visit Palau to jointly promote tourism. But given the rapidly changing international and domestic political and economic situations, the spokesperson said that President Tsai must remain in Taiwan to ensure the government continues to function smoothly and respond to regional and global challenges.
Spokesperson Chang then said that to demonstrate the importance of Taiwan-Palau relations, enhance our friendly bilateral ties, and respond positively to President Whipps' expectations, President Tsai has appointed Vice President Lai to lead a delegation to visit Palau for three days and two nights from November 1-3.
As this trip is only three days long, Spokesperson Chang said that it has an "ironman" itinerary, and that President Tsai hopes Vice President Lai and his delegation will achieve three major objectives regarding our bilateral and international connections, tourism, and cooperation during their three-day stay.
As for the first objective regarding our connections, Spokesperson Chang said that in addition to a closer and deeper connection with Palau, Taiwan wants to connect with the world. He added that although the pandemic has had a global impact for the past two-plus years, Taiwan and Palau have still maintained close interaction. In April this year, for example, Minister of Environmental Protection Chang Tzi-chin (張子敬) led a delegation to attend the Our Ocean Conference in Palau, while Palau Vice President J. Uduch Sengebau Senior visited Taiwan in August and President Whipps just came to Taiwan earlier this month for a state visit and to attend our National Day celebrations. The spokesperson said that Vice President Lai's upcoming trip thus not only reflects the close connection between Taiwan and Palau, but also represents our reestablishing connections with the world as we reopen Taiwan's borders and welcome international travelers to visit and Taiwanese abroad to return home.
Addressing the second objective regarding tourism, Spokesperson Chang said that both Taiwan and Palau want to promote the beauty and appeal of ocean tourism. As Palau is home to a world-renowned tourism sector, the spokesperson stated that one day of Vice President Lai's three-day itinerary will focus on Palau's captivating ocean tourism. Spokesperson Chang added that Taiwan is willing to assist Palau in tourism and economic development, and will reinstate regularly scheduled flights between Taiwan and Palau beginning November 16 to resume mutual visits and exchanges. The spokesperson explained that President Tsai thus expects Vice President Lai's visit to both promote the beauty of Taiwan to the people of Palau and share the wonders of Palau with the people of Taiwan.
Addressing the third objective regarding cooperation, Spokesperson Chang said that through the joint efforts of the public and private sectors, the government hopes to continue deepening bilateral collaboration and promoting the well-being of people in both countries. He stated that Taiwan and Palau have long enjoyed close cooperation in various areas including public health and medicine, agriculture, fisheries, livestock, clean energy, infrastructure, information and communications technology, responses to climate change, education, training, and women's empowerment. The spokesperson also stated that in addition to facilitating high-level interaction between our two countries, Vice President Lai's trip will highlight the concrete progress of cooperative programs in transportation, agriculture, sport, and medical care, which have been widely praised and supported by Palauans from all walks of life. The spokesperson conveyed President Tsai's hope that, through the collaborative efforts of the public and private sectors in both our countries, this trip will help us continue to deepen Taiwan-Palau cooperation across the board and promote the well-being of our peoples.
Spokesperson Chang explained that, in keeping with the trip's three major objectives, the delegation will include Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光), Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良), Tourism Bureau Director-General Chang Shi-chung (張錫聰), Fisheries Agency Director-General Chang Chih-sheng (張致盛), and other representatives of relevant government agencies. More than 30 members of tourism industry associations and firms from counties and cities across Taiwan will join the delegation. A medical team led by Chairman Eugene Wu (吳東進) of Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, which has long carried out medical cooperation projects in Palau, will accompany the delegation. Also joining the group is President Lin Ching-po (林清波) of the Hotel Royal Group, investor and founder of the Palau Royal Resort, Palau's most famous five-star resort and an important Taiwanese private sector investment project, which has won acclaim across Palau and facilitated closer Taiwan-Palau ties.
Spokesperson Chang said that, just as when Vice President Lai this past January led a delegation to attend the inauguration of the president of our diplomatic ally Honduras, the members of this delegation will follow the Central Epidemic Command Center's latest disease prevention guidelines on this trip. As in January, the delegation will be accompanied by a disease prevention official, a role which will be carried out by Dr. Huang Chien-hsien (黃建賢), head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital. Under current arrangements, approximately 100 persons will travel with Vice President Lai, including delegation members, support staff, security personnel, tourism industry representatives, and members of the medical team. The spokesperson also welcomed and invited members of the press to apply to travel with the delegation, which will accommodate a designated number of journalists.
Emphasizing that Taiwan and Palau are maritime democracies as well as staunch allies in the Indo-Pacific region, Spokesperson Chang noted that promoting high-level reciprocal visits and consolidating official ties have always been diplomatic priorities for our government. We hope that, by building on the solid foundation of the Taiwan-Palau relationship, this delegation can further advance bilateral cooperation, diplomatic ties, and the well-being of our peoples.
Director-General Wallace Chow Minn-gan (周民淦) of the Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then outlined the itinerary for the delegation, which is scheduled to depart for Palau on the morning of November 1 and arrive in the Republic of Palau at about 1 p.m. that day, after which it will proceed to the nation's new capital Ngerulmud to call upon President Whipps.
Director-General Chow said that members of Palau's House of Delegates and Senate will jointly welcome Vice President Lai to the National Congress, where he will deliver a speech. The vice president and his delegation will then take part in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new road in the capital city before proceeding to a farm operated by Taiwan's technical mission in Palau, where they will inspect the results of the mission's agricultural cooperation and thank the members of the mission for their hard work. Later that evening, the delegation will attend a state banquet hosted by President Whipps.
Director-General Chow said that the second day's itinerary will focus on promoting tourism in Palau. President Whipps will guide the vice president and his delegation on a tour of the world-famous Rock Islands, which have been designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and which are home to many scenic spots. That evening, Vice President Lai will host an appreciation banquet.
Director-General Chow stated that there are plans for two ceremonies on the third day, with the delegation to witness the opening of a telemedicine center by Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital and the Palau Ministry of Health and Human Services before proceeding to Palau's main baseball stadium to mark the donation of baseball equipment to the Palau Major League by the Taiwan International Baseball Interchange Development Association. At midday, Vice President Lai will hold a reception for the members of the press corps traveling with the delegation, at which he will share his thoughts on the trip and field reporters' questions. The delegation will leave Palau that afternoon and return to Taiwan that evening.