MOFA launches PILP with Taiwan in Taipei

2014-10-15

Pacific Islands Leadership Program with Taiwan kicked off Oct. 13 in Taipei City, underscoring government efforts to bolster ties between Taiwan and countries throughout the region.

“We are pleased to co-host the program with East-West Center in the U.S. for the second year,” Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Vanessa Shih said at the opening ceremony.

“This initiative reaffirms the importance of close cooperative relations among Taiwan, the U.S. and Pacific Island nations. It is also a key plank in the government’s East China Sea Peace Initiative and illustrates our commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.”

Proposed by President Ma Ying-jeou in August 2012, the initiative calls on all parties to refrain from antagonistic actions, shelve controversies and not abandon dialogue, observe international law and resolve disputes through peaceful means, seek consensus on a code of conduct in the region, and establish a mechanism for cooperation on exploring and developing resources.

Also attending the ceremony were ambassadors to the ROC of Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Palau, as well as the charge d’ affaires of the Solomon Islands, representative to Taiwan of Fiji and Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

Running until Nov. 8, the four-week program involves 26 young students and professionals from 13 Pacific nations gaining firsthand experience of Taiwan through a variety of activities such as workshops and seminars. Within five years, it aims to produce 125 young leaders across the region skilled in leadership and building cooperation.

Highlights of the program include visits by participants to a number of the nation’s leading academic, private and public sector institutions where they will engage in exchanges with local experts in an array of fields.

Also scheduled are tours of such attractions as National Palace Museum and Sun Moon Lake. These trips are expected to expose participants to broader aspects of Taiwan’s culture and its natural beauty.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=222814&CtNode=413)