President of the Republic of China, Lai Ching-te, met with the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Feleti Teo, who visited Taiwan to attend the National Day celebrations. Teo expressed his commitment to continue advocating for Taiwan’s participation in the global system during his tenure as Prime Minister.
In the meeting between President Lai Ching-te and “Prime Minister Feleti Teo and delegation from Tuvalu,” Teo expressed gratitude for Tuvalu’s consistent support for Taiwan in international forums and their unwavering backing. He emphasized the importance of collaborating to address climate change challenges and strengthening cooperation in various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, and information and communication technology, to defend democracy and freedom with resilience and courage, ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region.
During his speech, Prime Minister Feleti Teo congratulated Taiwan on its upcoming 113th National Day celebration. He noted that Tuvalu also marks its Independence Day in October, having recently celebrated its 46th anniversary.
Teo mentioned that this was his second visit to Taiwan. His previous visit was his first overseas trip as Prime Minister, where he was delighted to witness President Lai’s inauguration ceremony. This time, he was honored to attend as the guest of honor at the National Day celebrations.
He also highlighted that upon taking office in February, one of Tuvalu’s priorities was to enhance bilateral relations with Taiwan comprehensively and extensively. The diplomatic relationship between Taiwan and Tuvalu was established in 1979, the year after Tuvalu gained independence, marking 45 years of friendship. Based on democratic principles and values, the bilateral relationship is grounded on respect for the rule of law, democratic systems, and the principle of separation of powers, demonstrating mutual respect for national sovereignty.
Teo mentioned that at this year’s United Nations General Assembly, he strongly advocated for Taiwan’s participation in UN-related mechanisms and activities, pointing out the inconsistency in excluding Taiwan despite the theme of the General Assembly being “Leave no one behind”. He noted that Resolution 2758 did not exclude Taiwan’s participation. Therefore, during his tenure as Prime Minister, he would continue to advocate for supporting Taiwan’s integration into the global system.
He also expressed gratitude for Taiwan’s ongoing assistance, including the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, in addressing Tuvalu’s challenges related to climate change and rising sea levels. Teo appreciated Taiwan’s emphasis on climate change policies and measures and looked forward to deeper cooperation in the future, acknowledging Taiwan’s assistance in talent training and scholarship provision.
Lastly, Teo thanked for being invited as the guest of honor for the National Day celebrations and expressed anticipation for the festivities. He extended congratulations on Taiwan’s 113th National Day.
In his address, President Lai Ching-te welcomed the guests with “Talofa!”, meaning “hello” in Tuvaluan. He noted that this was Prime Minister Teo’s second visit to Taiwan since assuming office in February. He expressed gratitude for Tuvalu’s consistent blessings and support during Taiwan’s important occasions.
President Lai pointed out that during this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) and the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Tuvalu stood up for Taiwan, assisting in expanding Taiwan’s international participation. He commended Prime Minister Teo for highlighting Taiwan’s exclusion and Resolution 2758 at the UN General Assembly, thanking Tuvalu for its staunch support and assistance.
“Prime Minister Teo highlighted at the UN General Assembly the dual climate threats of climate change and rising sea levels facing Tuvalu. As a fellow oceanic nation, Taiwan empathizes with these challenges. We have established the National Climate Change Adaptation Committee at the Presidential Office to bolster Taiwan’s resilience against extreme climate risks, and we aim to enhance exchanges with other countries to share experiences and strategies,” stated President Lai.
Over the past years, Taiwan and Tuvalu have collaborated on initiatives such as the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project. The two nations will continue to work together to tackle climate change challenges and build closer cooperation in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, and information and communication technology to promote mutual prosperity and development.
President Lai emphasized that Taiwan and Tuvalu are brotherly nations, akin to “Taina” in Tuvaluan, symbolizing siblinghood. He thanked Prime Minister Teo for deepening bilateral ties through his visit and looked forward to further strengthening the friendship. He believed that both nations would continue to defend democracy and freedom with courage and resilience, ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region, extending best wishes for the success of the delegation’s visit.
The delegation included Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Labor, and Trade, such as Paulson Panapa, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu and Taiwan’s Ambassador to Tuvalu, Daniel Lin. They visited the Presidential Office where they met with President Lai, with Secretary-General Pan Meng-an also present.