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President Tsai's remarks at state banquet hosted by Marshall Islands President Heine

2018-03-26

President Tsai's remarks at state banquet hosted by Marshall Islands President Heine

Iakwe! (Good evening!)

As the first-ever female leaders of our respective nations, my friend President [Hilda] Heine and I are well aware of the challenges that women face when participating in public affairs.

When I visited the Marshall Islands two years ago, President Heine and I agreed that a regional forum of women leaders should be held to promote exchanges and cooperation on gender equality.

I am delighted that this idea has come to fruition. During the Pacific Women Leaders' Coalition Conference today, representatives from different countries and regions have initiated a very meaningful dialogue.

This brings to mind an observation made by the Oceanic philosopher Epeli Hau'ofa. He stated that from the perspective of continental land, Oceanic nations are sometimes viewed as "islands in a far sea," but from the perspective of the ocean, our countries constitute "a sea of islands."

My dear friends, we are not small and insignificant. On the contrary, by fostering linkages across the Pacific, we can make profound contributions to the world. Today's multilateral conference on gender equality serves as an excellent example.

By the same token, if even more Pacific countries join hands on issues such as global warming and marine conservation, we can bring about even greater change. After all, the Pacific is the largest ocean in the world.

Taiwan is ready and willing to work in concert with the Marshall Islands, the United States, New Zealand, and other like-minded nations to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Although Taiwan is not an official member of the United Nations, we are every bit as committed as any UN Member State to the implementation of the SDGs.

I am also grateful to President Heine and many other friends for consistently supporting Taiwan's reasonable bid for international participation, based on their friendship with our country as well as their sense of justice.

If we are accorded more opportunities, we will share our experience in implementing the SDGs. Taiwan can give the rest of the world many more options. So yes, Taiwan can help, but Taiwan needs your support to do so.

In closing, I invite all of you to join me in a toast: To sustainable development worldwide, to a vibrant and beautiful Pacific, and to the robust diplomatic partnership and enduring friendship between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands!

Kommol tata! (Thank you!)

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