Tsai to visit 3 ROC diplomatic allies in South Pacific

2017/10/18

President Tsai Ing-wen will depart Oct. 28 on her first official visit to Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu in the South Pacific.
 
 The eight-day trip, which underscores the importance the government places on deepening relations between the ROC and its diplomatic allies, follows repeated invitations from the leaders of the three nations since Tsai took office in May last year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
 MOFA Deputy Ministry Francois Chih-chung Wu said although the ROC and the three nations are distant geographically, they are close culturally as all belong to the region of Austronesia.
 
 The president’s itinerary includes meetings with Marshall Islands President Hilda C. Heine, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Governor General Frank Ofagioro Kabui, and Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele S. Sopoaga and Governor General Iakoba Taeia Italeli. She is expected to exchange views on issues of bilateral and international importance.
 
 During the Marshall and Solomon islands legs of the visit, Tsai is scheduled to address the legislative bodies of both nations and inspect bilateral agricultural and medical cooperation projects. This will provide her with an opportunity to better understand the sustainable development needs of the two countries and determine how the ROC can assist in line with steadfast diplomacy.
 
 This is to be the president’s third official trip abroad following visits to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in January, and Paraguay in June 2016.
 
 Tsai will be accompanied by a delegation of government officials and legislators, including MOFA Minister David Tawei Lee, Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Icyang Parod and Office of the President Secretary-General Joseph Wu.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=123317)