VP Chen lauds 20 years of Taiwan-Palau ties during official visit

2019/12/31

Taiwan-Palau ties are at an all-time high as the two countries celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations, Vice President Chen Chien-jen said Dec. 29 during an official visit to the Indo-Pacific ally.
 
 Both sides possess close ties to the sea and rich Austronesian culture, Chen said. This makes them like-minded partners in ensuring the sustainable development of industries such as shipping and tourism, as well as implementing farsighted marine conservation and management policies, he added.
 
 Chen made the remarks while delivering an address at a banquet hosted by Palau Vice President Raynold Oilouch. Other activities on Chen’s three-day itinerary include meetings with President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., Minister of State Faustina Rehuher-Marugg and inspection tours of Taiwan’s medical and technical missions.
 
 According to Chen, ocean-related collaboration between Taiwan and Palau extends over many areas. Some of the highest-profile examples include the agreement on coast guard cooperation signed by Presidents Tsai Ing-wen and Remengesau in Palau during the former’s Oceans of Democracy state visit in March, and the Aquaculture Project launched in 2010, he said.
 
 Utilizing sea-based enclosures to farm marine organisms, the project is a major contributor to strengthening food security and minimizing the threat of overfishing in Palau’s territorial waters. It is implemented by Keelung City-based National Taiwan Ocean University in northern Taiwan and Palau’s Bureau of Marine Resources under the Ministry of National Resources, Environment and Tourism.
 
 Other successful bilateral undertakings span agriculture, clean energy, education, fisheries, health care, infrastructure and medicine, Chen said, adding that Taiwan will continue working hand in hand with Palau to promote peace, stability and inclusive prosperity throughout the region.
 
 During Chen’s predeparture news conference Dec. 28 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, he thanked Remengesau and the people of Palau for staunchly supporting Taiwan’s participation in the activities, mechanisms and meetings of U.N. specialized agencies and other international organizations.
 
 According to the Presidential Office, Chen is scheduled to touch down at TTIA Dec. 30 in northern Taiwan.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)