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Vice President Lai attends groundbreaking ceremony in Palau's capital city
Vice President Lai attends groundbreaking ceremony in Palau's capital city
2022-11-01

On the afternoon of November 1 (Taipei time), Vice President Lai Ching-te attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a road building project in Ngerulmud, the capital of the Republic of Palau. In remarks, the vice president said that this bilateral collaboration project represents a spiritual link between Taiwan and Palau. He expressed confidence that this project will help consolidate our bilateral ties and enhance friendly people-to-people relations, making all of our collaborative projects even more successful. The vice president also wished for a smooth and successful construction process, and that this project will enhance the well-being of all the people of Palau.

Vice President Lai said that he was delighted to be invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for this project in Ngerulmud, because roads promote economic development, link communities, and are an important channel through which people can develop feelings of connection. The vice president extended his best wishes for a smooth groundbreaking ceremony and a safe and successful construction process for this project that will enhance the well-being of the people of Palau.

Vice President Lai pointed out that this road is not only a bilateral collaboration project, but also a symbol of the affinity between our countries. In addition to providing access to the health center in the eastern part of the city, the vice president said this road represents a spiritual connection between Taiwan and Palau, and expressed confidence that this project will help consolidate our bilateral ties and enhance friendly people-to-people relations, making all of our collaborative projects even more successful.

Touched by Paramount High Chief Reklai Raphael Ngirmang's recounting of the collaborative projects that Taiwan and Palau have worked on over the past two decades and his description of our bilateral cooperation and our friendly people-to-people relations, Vice President Lai said it was a pity that not all Taiwanese were able to be there to hear it. But the vice president said he will take Paramount High Chief Reklai's sentiments back home to help the public understand Palau's support and affinity for Taiwan. Vice President Lai expressed confidence that our many collaborative projects over the past 20 years, like the growth rings of a tree, will only become more robust as the years go by, and that Taiwan-Palau relations will likewise grow closer and stronger.  

Vice President Lai also mentioned that he has met President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. several times, but that day was the first time he had met Paramount High Chief Reklai and Palau's senate president and house speaker. The vice president said their remarks showed their desire to do all they can to improve the welfare of Palauans and to safeguard the universal values of democratic societies. The vice president added that as they talked about their painful experiences of World War II, they stressed the importance of working toward peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, goals that Palau shares with the people of Taiwan. Vice President Lai expressed hope that in the future, everyone will continue working together toward peace, stability, prosperity, and security.   

Also attending the groundbreaking ceremony were President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of Palau, Vice President J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, Senate President Hokkons Baules, and House Speaker Sabino Anastacio, as well as Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光), Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良), and Ambassador to Palau Ambassador Jessica C. Lee (黎倩儀). 

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