Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the evening of December 6, President Lai Ching-te returned to Taiwan after the conclusion of his state visits to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Palau, and delivered remarks on his visit at Taoyuan International Airport. In remarks, President Lai reported on the achievements of the trip, which included deepening of friendships with diplomatic allies, the launch of a new era of values-based diplomacy, and the consolidation of overseas support for Taiwan. The president emphasized that so long as we defend democracy, deepen democracy, and uphold the universal values of democracy as we engage with other countries around the world, we can certainly garner more support, not only defending Taiwan, but also maintaining regional peace and stability.In remarks, President Lai first told the people of Taiwan that everyone in the delegation, including the members of the traveling press corps, all returned home safely, and that the seven-day, six-night trip is now complete. He again thanked the government of the United States for providing assistance based on the principles of safety, dignity, comfort, and convenience, which helped the trip proceed smoothly and successfully.President Lai thanked national security and diplomatic staff for their careful advance arrangements and detailed communications, mentioning in particular the details of the visit worked out by front-line personnel from the overseas representative offices and thanking them for the hard work. He also thanked the China Airlines crew members for providing safe and comfortable services that enabled the delegation to rest well despite the packed schedule.The president then thanked the members of the traveling press corps for updating Taiwan on the trip’s latest news, working late into the night and sometimes going as long as 40 hours without sleeping, which was impressive. The president expressed hope that the press corps members’ employers would provide appropriate rewards and said he looked forward to traveling with the press corps again to visit Taiwan’s allies in the future.President Lai reported to the people of Taiwan on the achievements of the trip. The first, he said, is that we deepened friendships with diplomatic allies. The delegation received enthusiastic welcomes from the people of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau. President Lai thanked President Hilda C. Heine of the Marshall Islands, Prime Minister Feleti Teo of Tuvalu, and President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of Palau for their warm hospitality and staunch support for Taiwan. He noted that Taiwan shares an Austronesian cultural heritage with those three countries, and that during the trip he strongly felt that it makes us all like family.Second, said the president, is that we have launched a new era of values-based diplomacy. During this trip, he said, he saw that cooperation between Taiwan and the three diplomatic allies had yielded tangible results in such areas as public health, food security, climate change, digital transformation, and maritime security. He expressed confidence that these results would further consolidate friendships with diplomatic allies. We are all aware, and international news organizations have published many reports, he said, that these diplomatic allies are bravely resisting the threats and enticements of authoritarian actors. These countries bravely and firmly support the universal values of democracy, which is an important reason why these three diplomatic allies stand unwaveringly with us.The president mentioned that during the trip his delegation and the governors and legislatures of Hawaii and Guam affirmed their shared commitment to democracy. He expressed his belief that democracy is Taiwan’s most precious asset, one that we have only through the lifelong devotion of a succession of democracy activists. Nationwide solidarity, he said, has made Taiwan a beacon for democracy in Asia. Moving forward, he added, we will continue to use the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights to further engage in diplomacy with the world’s democracies. He emphasized that in this way we can achieve mutually beneficial situations with prosperity and development for all sides while we jointly combat expanding authoritarianism.And third, the president said, is that we have consolidated overseas support for Taiwan. He thanked all the overseas community members, not only those living in the places he visited, but also those who traveled from other locations to where his delegation was visiting. Everyone gathered together and cheered for Taiwan, he said, and expressed their intent to contribute even more for Taiwan. As president, he said that he is moved by this support and that he is proud of the overseas community.President Lai then thanked the US, including the governor of Guam for inviting him and his delegation to breakfast, when the national anthems of Taiwan and the US were both played and sung at the governor’s house, clearly expressing strong support for Taiwan. Noting that the Guam Legislature had passed resolutions backing Taiwan for four consecutive years, the president said he was honored to receive a copy of the most recent one on behalf of the people of Taiwan. President Lai also thanked the governor of Hawaii for enthusiastically supporting his delegation. The Hawaiian State Legislature, he said, presented him a gift of the US flag and the Hawaii state flag, which he accepted on behalf of the people of Taiwan. This shows, he remarked, that not only do our diplomatic allies stand firmly with us, but that in our partner the US, Taiwan enjoys bipartisan support in Congress as well as strong support at the local level in such places as Hawaii and Guam. He emphasized that all of this shows that Taiwan has successfully consolidated overseas support for Taiwan.President Lai said that Taiwan will continue doing all it can, adding that “the virtuous never stand alone.” So long as we defend democracy, deepen democracy, and uphold the universal values of democracy as we engage with other countries around the world, we can certainly garner more support, not only defending Taiwan, he emphasized, but also maintaining regional peace and stability.In closing, the president thanked the national security team, led by National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), and the Executive Yuan team, led by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), for professionally attending to many domestic and international issues during his trip, ensuring the stability of our society and keeping the government running smoothly.Belizean Ambassador Candice Augusta Pitts, in her capacity as secretary-general of the diplomatic corps, Palauan Ambassador David Adams Orrukem, and Tuvaluan Charge d’Affaires a.i. Silafaga Lalua O’Brien were present at the airport to welcome the president upon his return.

At noon on December 5 local time (morning of December 5 Taipei time), President Lai Ching-te attended an expatriate luncheon in Guam while on a transit stop during a series of state visits to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Palau. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of the United States for its assistance based on the principles of safety, dignity, comfort, and convenience, helping make the trip smooth and successful. The president noted that Taiwan and the US share the universal values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. President Lai said he believes that as long as we work together, we can overcome all manner of challenges, and that we will work with the US and other fellow democracies to safeguard Taiwan’s security, maintain regional peace, and benefit the world.After arriving, President Lai first listened to a song of prayer by members of a cultural organization singing in Guam’s indigenous Chamorro language. In remarks, the president stated that this was his first trip to Guam. He thanked Governor of Guam Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, her husband Jeffrey A. Cook, and the many distinguished US guests for attending and showing their support for Taiwan.The president stated that this was his first overseas trip since his inauguration on May 20 this year, encompassing allies the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and his next destination of Palau, with transit stops in Hawaii and Guam. He once again thanked the US government for its assistance based on the principles of safety, dignity, comfort, and convenience, helping make the trip smooth and successful. He then invited everyone present to give a big round of applause to the US government, as well as American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairperson Laura Rosenberger and Managing Director Ingrid Larson for their strong support.The president noted that the three Pacific allies he was visiting and the two locations where he made transit stops all share Austronesian culture with Taiwan, making us family, and that he felt very connected to each place he went during this trip. We are like-minded partners, he said, sharing the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights, jointly pursuing global peace and the well-being of our peoples.President Lai also mentioned that with every encounter during this trip, whether through a handshake or a hug, all parties encouraged and felt deeply connected to one another. He thanked Governor Leon Guerrero and her husband for inviting him to the governor’s residence that day, where they joined in singing the national anthems of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the US, as well as the Guam Hymn. He said he felt like old friends from the start with Governor Leon Guerrero, as both have medical backgrounds, and both have made commitments to improve the well-being of their peoples.President Lai said he was honored to have received a copy of the Taiwan-friendly resolution passed by the Guam Legislature earlier that day on behalf of the people of Taiwan. He noted that for four consecutive years, the Guam Legislature has passed Taiwan-friendly resolutions, and moving forward, based on this resolution, Taiwan and Guam will certainly be able to establish even more friendly cooperation, deepen their relations, and create greater mutual benefits for their peoples. He also thanked Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, Vice Speaker Tina Rose Muña Barnes, and the senators of the Guam Legislature for the staunch support and deep friendship they have shown to Taiwan. The president also mentioned that during his stopover in Hawaii, he received a US flag and a Hawaii state flag on behalf of the people of Taiwan.The president stated that whether it was singing the national anthems at the governor’s residence, receiving the copy of the Taiwan-friendly resolution passed by the Guam Legislature, or receiving the flags from the Hawaii State Legislature, all were demonstrations of the deep connections between Taiwan and the US and our rock-solid partnership. He expressed confidence that, moving forward, Taiwan and the US would even further advance bilateral relations, and jointly promote democracy, freedom, and prosperity.The president thanked the members of the overseas community for making time to join the luncheon, and stated that the efforts of the Taiwanese people over the past decades have seen significant results internationally. Taiwan’s democracy, he said, has given us a better way of life, and because of our democracy, we have freedom and diverse creativity that have allowed our economy to steadily grow. Shared democratic values, he said, have allowed Taiwan to make friends with Guam, Hawaii, the US, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Palau, and democracies throughout the world.The president stated that Taiwan went through a dark time of authoritarian rule, and today has become a beacon for democracy in Asia. Addressing his fellow Taiwanese overseas, the president urged that no matter where you are in this world, let us make a joint commitment to continue strengthening and protecting democracy, and let us not bow down to authoritarianism.In terms of the economy, the president said that Taiwan has progressed from the agriculture and industry of the past into the age of technology, and through everyone’s collective efforts, has become the world’s 21st-largest economy. Our semiconductor industry ranks first in the world, the president said, and over 90 percent of the world’s advanced chips are manufactured in Taiwan. Our mission, he said, is to use semiconductors to help the world promote economic prosperity and development. The president went on to say that worldwide, Taiwan is not only number one in semiconductors, but also in baseball. In this year’s World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 tournament, Taiwan was the world champion. Thirty years ago, if someone said that Taiwan would become the world’s leading contract wafer producer; or 10 years ago, if someone said that Taiwan could manufacture submarines; or one month ago, if someone said that Taiwan’s baseball team would become world champions, people would not believe it. But we have achieved all those things, the president said.The president emphasized that for decades, we have accomplished things that other people thought were impossible. He thanked the overseas Taiwanese community for their contributions, and said he believes that as long as we work together, we can overcome all manner of challenges, and that we will work with the US and other fellow democracies to safeguard Taiwan’s security, maintain regional peace, and benefit the world.President Lai stated that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. It also marks the 80th anniversary of Guam’s Liberation Day, and this year’s theme, “Peace for Us Always,” is profoundly significant. In addition to thanking the US once again for its long-term support, the president said that, with Peace for Us Always as the goal, he hopes to work together with Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and people from all walks of life in the US to pursue global democracy, peace, and prosperity.In her remarks, AIT Managing Director Larson welcomed President Lai to Guam and stated that the US and Taiwan have a broad relationship focusing on democracy, security, prosperity, and Taiwan’s place in the international community. For Taiwan and the US, she said, perhaps the most important of our shared values is democracy, and Taiwan is a leading democracy in the Indo-Pacific region.Managing Director Larson pointed out that the North Star of success of American administrations has been cross-strait peace and stability. The US therefore will continue to help Taiwan bolster its self-defense capabilities, she said, applauds all of Taiwan’s efforts to reinforce its self-defense capabilities, including reforms and resource investment, and supports the approach of whole-of-society resilience.Managing Director Larson also said that the reopening of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam will provide a great platform to expand academic, scientific, investment, and cultural exchanges, and she looks forward to continued collaboration to preserve the bonds of friendship, culture, values, and civic engagement.AIT Chairperson Rosenberger welcomed President Lai to Guam via video, and also thanked Managing Director Larson for representing AIT in Guam while she is on parental leave. Chairperson Rosenberger noted that in terms of international space, economic engagement, whole-of-society resilience, and shared values, the US and Taiwan are doing so much work together, with so many elements to the foundation of our bilateral partnership. She also expressed hope that President Lai’s visit to Guam will be productive, and wished him a smooth journey to Palau.CNMI Governor Arnold I. Palacios also delivered remarks, welcoming President Lai to Guam and stating that CNMI shares with Taiwan the common values of democracy and friendship, as well as cultural similarities. Despite the challenges presented by the current geopolitical environment, he said, he looks forward to an enduring friendship with Taiwan to ensure that our democratic values across the region continue and endure.In her remarks, Governor Leon Guerrero said she was pleased that President Lai made Guam a part of his Pacific tour, reflecting the deep and growing ties between Taiwan and Guam, two island communities with a common Austronesian ancestry and shared values and aspirations. Governor Leon Guerrero remarked that our strength lies in unity, and we are more resilient and agile when we work together. Together, she said, we can propel our region toward a more sustainable and prosperous future and uplift our people. She said she looks forward to many more exchanges between our islands, sharing knowledge, culture, opportunities, and traditions that will contribute to the collective advancement of the Austronesian region. Lastly, she wished that President Lai’s Pacific trip will bring about meaningful connections for a smarter, more sustainable future.Following the speeches, Governors Leon Guerrero and Palacios presented President Lai with congratulatory letters, and CNMI Senator Celina Babauta presented President Lai with a copy of the CNMI Senate’s Taiwan-friendly resolution.

On the afternoon of December 4 (noon on December 4 Taipei time), President Lai Ching-te departed from Tuvalu while en route for a state visit to the Republic of Palau. After a more than five-hour flight, his delegation arrived at the A. B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam on the evening of December 4 local time (early evening of December 4 Taipei time).President Lai was welcomed to Guam on the plane by Representative to the United States Alexander Tah-ray Yui (俞大㵢) and American Institute in Taiwan Managing Director Ingrid Larson, and after alighting from the plane was greeted by Governor of Guam Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and her husband Jeffrey A. Cook, Chief of Staff Jon Calvo, and Chief of Protocol Joseph Shinohara with a lei. The president and his delegation then traveled by car to their hotel, where they were warmly greeted by members of our overseas community. President Lai shook hands with our fellow Taiwanese in attendance amidst a lively and joyful atmosphere.

On the evening of December 3 local time (afternoon of December 3 Taipei time), President Lai Ching-te attended a state banquet hosted by President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In remarks, President Lai noted that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share an Austronesian culture, and that we cherish democracy and love liberty, adding that he believes we are truly a family. He then expressed his hope for our nations’ strong and everlasting ties.A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:This is my first visit to the Marshall Islands. I am extremely grateful to our good friends for their warm reception. It is an honor to attend this state banquet hosted by President Heine. I want to thank President Heine and First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr. for visiting the Republic of China (Taiwan) this past May to attend the inauguration of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. Today, I am delighted to be advancing exchanges with President Heine, Speaker of the Nitijela (parliament) Brenson Wase, and our Marshallese friends.On this visit, it has been profoundly apparent to me that our nations enjoy close, cooperative relations. We have not only visited the Majuro Hospital AI and Telemedicine Center, we have also seen the fruits and vegetables produced by the Taiwan Technical Mission and local farmers. These achievements are a wonderful reflection of our peoples’ friendship.This afternoon, I was able to sample some of the vegetables grown at the Taiwan Technical Mission’s Laura Farm. Their produce was not only sweet and delicious, but quite touching. And I also got to try some of your nation’s very special Bob Whisky. It had a distinctive flavor, with a fruity aroma and a really great taste.The past several years have seen the establishment and promotion of the AI and Telemedicine Center, undertaken by Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital’s Medical Center. It is really quite remarkable. It has helped empower the health of 80 percent of the Marshallese population. And Taiwan Health Center, which has a long presence in the Marshall Islands, is also reaching out to local communities with health-building efforts, helping the Marshallese youth to cultivate healthy lifestyles while also fostering talent for health promotion. I am confident that these efforts will benefit the health of the Marshallese people. So I would like to express my appreciation to our colleagues from Shuang Ho Hospital and the Taiwan Technical Mission.Moving forward, Taiwan will do all it can to work with the Marshall Islands in creating many more cooperative achievements. Just like in education, for instance, during former President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit seven years ago, she signed the Taiwan-Marshall Islands Presidents’ Scholarship agreement with President Heine. To date, the scholarship has been awarded to 298 Marshallese students. Moreover, we have increased funding by US$500,000 – raising the total to US$1.5 million. For this visit, we also prepared some Taiwan-themed school supplies for the Marshallese schoolchildren to help them learn more about Taiwan. In all of these efforts, we aspire to cultivate even more talent.Furthermore, we understand the importance of transport links to the Marshall Islands. That is why, with the active intervention of President Heine, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani Kaneko, and Speaker Wase, Taiwan will provide the Marshall Islands with a preferential loan that will allow Air Marshall Islands to procure new aircraft, improving local air services and safety. Meanwhile, we will carry out discussions on security issues with which President Heine is very concerned so as to help capacity-building for the Marshall Islands.The friendship between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands has grown out of engagement in many sectors and walks of life. Our fellow Taiwanese here today – wholesale market and hardware store owners, shipping agency operators, hoteliers, and restauranteurs, for example – have striven for decades to create local job opportunities and strengthen our nations’ ties. I want to thank each and every one of you for your commitment and contributions. Going forward, we will encourage even more Taiwanese businesses to invest in the Marshall Islands.Taiwan and the Marshall Islands have many things in common. We are maritime nations and maritime peoples; we share an Austronesian culture; and we are a family that cherishes democracy and loves liberty. Indeed, thanks to our deep and enduring alliance and our kindred spirits, I believe that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands are truly a family.In closing, I invite you all to join me in a toast to our nations’ strong and everlasting ties.President Heine then delivered remarks, saying that she is honored by President Lai visiting the Republic of the Marshall Islands in his first state visit since taking office. Our two nations, she said, while being separated by the vast Pacific Ocean, have many traditions and cultural aspects in common, and since establishing diplomatic relations 26 years ago, our ties have continued to deepen. She also noted that we share common values, including democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights and for a rules-based international order. We also engage in exchanges, she pointed out, in areas such as education, women’s empowerment, agriculture, medicine, public health, environmental protection, and culture.President Heine reiterated that the government of the Marshall Islands is determined to support Taiwan and its 23 million people. She pointed out that during the United Nations General Assembly which she attended in September this year, she spoke out for Taiwan and firmly supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN system. If, she said, the UN is serious that “no one is left behind,” then it would acknowledge Taiwan’s efforts and partnerships toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.Also in attendance at the event were Chairman for the Council of Iroij and traditional leader Lanny Kabua, as well as Ambassador of the Marshall Islands to Taiwan Anjanette Kattil.

While transiting in Hawaii before state visits to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Palau, President Lai Ching-te held a discussion with scholars and experts at the invitation of think tank the East-West Center on the afternoon of December 1 local time (morning of December 2 Taipei time).In remarks during a closed-door discussion, President Lai thanked East-West Center President Suzanne Vares-Lum for arranging the discussion, and expressed gratitude to the center for long promoting mutual understanding between the United States and the people of Asia and the Pacific. He also thanked the center for partnering with Taiwan on the Pacific Islands Leadership Program, which has nurtured over 200 future leaders from across the Pacific. The president said that programs like this highlight our shared dedication to fostering peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.President Lai also thanked the US for its longstanding support under the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, which continuously strengthens the Taiwan-US partnership. He said that the first agreement under the Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st-Century Trade opens new opportunities for cooperation while addressing challenges such as economic coercion, supply chain resilience, and double taxation.In the closed-door discussion, President Lai delivered remarks in English titled “A Future of Shared Prosperity: Taiwan as a Partner for Peace and Prosperity in the Indo-Pacific Region,” in which he emphasized the following three actions Taiwan is taking in regard to the Indo-Pacific and the world at large:First, Taiwan is implementing the Four Pillars of Peace action plan, which involves strengthening self-defense, enhancing economic security, deepening democratic ties, and engaging in dialogue. Taiwan is committed to strengthening national defense and building up whole-of-society defense resilience, with the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee already having been established at the Office of the President. Taiwan-US cooperation in recent years has demonstrated Taiwan’s commitment to its security, as well as the shared commitment of Taiwan and the US to peace in the Indo-Pacific region.Second, Taiwan actively contributes to global supply chains, especially in the semiconductor and other high-tech industries. The Taiwan-US partnership not only strengthens these industries, but also shows Taiwan’s strategic importance as a trustworthy, reliable partner. Taiwan also actively cooperates with like-minded nations, fully demonstrating how we leverage our expertise to contribute to global development.Third, Taiwan is actively committed to ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan continues to fulfill its commitments through transparent collaborations in public health, agriculture, fishery, livestock, and climate transformation, advancing close and friendly relations with our Pacific allies to achieve the three goals of smart sustainability, democratic sustainability, and diplomatic sustainability. In addition, Taiwan will continue to strengthen self-defense capabilities and work closely with like-minded nations to uphold our shared belief in peace through strength, defending the universal values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.Attendees also included former East-West Center President Richard R. Vuylsteke and former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman James Moriarty. Among those who attended the afternoon’s itinerary was AIT Managing Director Ingrid Larson.

On the afternoon of November 30 local time (morning of December 1 Taipei time), President Lai Ching-te visited the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) and the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii.Upon arrival at HI-EMA, President Lai was welcomed by the agency’s Administrator James DS. Barros and Governor of Hawaii Josh Green. After an exchange of gifts at the entrance, the president toured the agency and exchanged views with its personnel. He then visited the agency’s operations center to learn more about continency mechanisms for disaster response.The HI-EMA’s five core tasks are to prepare, protect, respond, recover, and mitigate the impacts of all hazards and threats. The agency works with the Hawaii National Guard (HING) to assist the state government to ensure the safety and well-being of the people and conduct extensive trainings on a regular basis in preparation for response to natural and man-made disasters whenever the need arises.President Lai then visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial before proceeding by shuttle boat to the USS Arizona Memorial, where he bowed in front of a wreath he placed to commemorate the fallen heroes. He then cast flower petals into the water to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives aboard the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thereafter, the president stopped to view a floor plan of the USS Arizona and listen to the explanations provided.Among those who attended the afternoon’s itinerary were American Institute in Taiwan Managing Director Ingrid Larson.

At 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 30, President Lai Ching-te departed from Taiwan for a visit to our diplomatic allies the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Palau. During the flight, President Lai delivered remarks thanking all those on staff for their hard work making preparations, and all the delegation members, traveling press corps, and the China Airlines crew members for doing their part to expand Taiwan’s international space. He then expressed hope that everyone will work together to help Taiwan engage steadily and confidently with the world.A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:I first want to welcome you all on this trip to our allies in the Pacific which looks to advance smart and sustainable development and regional prosperity. This is the first time that I will be traveling in my capacity as president to visit the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Palau and to make a transit stop in the United States islands of Hawaii and Guam.This is also the first time for me to see F-16V fighter jets escort my aircraft and deliver an aerial salute, which I found very moving. The sea of clouds outside the aircraft, with its many layers, is quite beautiful. Everyone should take the opportunity to enjoy the view.We all should get some rest during the flight, because our official diplomatic mission will begin immediately after we arrive in Hawaii. We have a tight schedule on this trip, so let’s all do our best, and remember that we are all Team Taiwan. Over the next seven days, we will be working hard together, helping Taiwan engage stably and confidently with the rest of the world.After delivering remarks, President Lai chatted with the traveling press corps, talking about his preparations for the trip and his thoughts on making his first trip as president.

On the morning of November 22, the Presidential Office held a press conference to announce that President Lai Ching-te will lead a delegation from November 30 to December 6 to visit the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Palau, all diplomatic allies of Taiwan. On this trip, President Lai hopes to achieve the core goals of smart sustainability, sustainable democracy, and sustainable diplomatic ties. The president looks forward to continuing to strengthen the close and friendly partnerships with our allies, and on the foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefits, allow for the sustainable growth of all areas of cooperation and enhance the well-being of all our peoples.At the press conference, Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) stated that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Tuvalu, the 26th anniversary of that between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands, and the 25th of that between Taiwan and Palau. In May this year, the spokesperson remarked, heads of state of these three Pacific nations, President Hilda C. Heine of the Marshall Islands, Prime Minister Feleti Teo of Tuvalu, and President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of Palau, led delegations to Taiwan to attend the presidential inauguration. Last month, she said, Prime Minister Teo made another visit, during which he served as chief guest in our National Day celebrations, showing strong support for Taiwan and generously inviting President Lai once again to pay a reciprocal visit.Spokesperson Kuo said that in reply to the warm invitations of these three Pacific allies, and in order to demonstrate the importance Taiwan places on them and continue to strengthen our close and friendly partnerships, President Lai will lead a delegation on a reciprocal visit to each. Noting that the theme of this visit is “Smart and Sustainable Development for a Prosperous Austronesian Region,” the spokesperson said that President Lai hopes to achieve three core goals in sustainability on the trip. The first, she said, is smart sustainability, as the president hopes to share Taiwan’s experiences with our allies to jointly build economic resilience. The second goal, she said, is sustainable democracy, in hopes that through these visits, we can deepen cooperation with democratic partners that share our values and beliefs. The spokesperson said that the last goal is sustainable diplomatic ties, as we look forward to continuing to advance together into the future, and on the foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefits, allow for the sustainable growth of all areas of cooperation and enhance the well-being of all our peoples.Spokesperson Kuo stated that the members of the delegation for this visit, which include Secretary-General to the President Pan Men-an (潘孟安), Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), Deputy Secretary-General to the President Chang Tun-han (張惇涵), Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青), Minister of the Ocean Affairs Council Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲), Minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples Ljaucu‧Zingrur (曾智勇), and Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), will see firsthand the results of the cooperative projects we have engaged in with our Pacific allies.Spokesperson Kuo stated that during the trip, President Lai will meet with President Heine in the Marshall Islands, Prime Minister Teo in Tuvalu, and President Whipps in Palau, and engage in a comprehensive exchange of views on our major bilateral cooperative projects as well as on issues pertaining to the Pacific region and international issues.Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) then outlined the trip itinerary, stating that President Lai will visit the three Pacific allies in the following order: the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and then Palau. He said that during his time in the Marshall Islands, the president will meet with President Heine and her cabinet and with Speaker of the Nitijela (parliament) Brenson Wase, adding that the president will also address the Nitijela, attend a ceremony marking the completion of the Majuro Hospital AI and Telemedicine Center, and attend a state banquet hosted by President Heine. During his time in Tuvalu, the deputy minister said, President Lai will meet with Governor-General Tofiga Vaevalu Falani and with Prime Minister Teo and his cabinet, attend a state banquet hosted by Prime Minister Teo, and visit Nauti Primary School. During his time in Palau, he said, the president will meet with President Whipps and his cabinet, address the Palau National Congress, attend a state banquet hosted by President Whipps, and participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new office building that will consolidate several of Palau’s government departments.Deputy Minister Tien emphasized that promoting summit diplomacy and friendship between Taiwan’s senior officials and those of our allies has always been a key part of our government’s diplomatic work. This is the first trip to diplomatic allies by President Lai since his inauguration, making it especially meaningful, the deputy minister said, and the details of his itinerary are currently under careful planning, arrangement, and coordination. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work with other government agencies as well as with the governments of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, to finalize the details of this itinerary and ensure the successful completion of its objectives.