The Republic of China’s diplomatic ally Palau and a delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, Gibson Kanai, visited Taiwan and met with Vice President Xiao Meiqin on the 25th. Xiao Meiqin stated that the Taiwan-Palau relationship is solid and stable, and she looks forward to strengthening cooperation in various fields to further deepen the partnership between the two sides.
Vice President Xiao Meiqin met with Palau’s Speaker of the House of Delegates, Gibson Kanai, and his delegation on the afternoon of the 25th, where she welcomed the visiting group to Taiwan, reaffirming the deep friendship and partnership between Taiwan and Palau.
Xiao Meiqin pointed out that among Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, Palau has many unique aspects. Palau is geographically the closest diplomatic ally to Taiwan, with direct flights between the two countries, and it is also a popular tourist destination for Taiwanese people.
Xiao Meiqin expressed gratitude to the Palau government and people for consistently emphasizing the right of Taiwanese people to participate in international events in the Pacific or other regions. She stated that Taiwan and Palau have a long-standing and steadfast relationship, not only sharing values such as democracy and freedom but also working towards enhancing the well-being of their people. She hopes to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields to deepen the solid partnership between the two countries.
The delegation from Palau’s House of Delegates, led by Speaker Gibson Kanai, also included Yutaka Gibbons, Jr., Chair of the Judiciary and Government Affairs Committee, and Silverius Tellei, Chair of the Immigration, Labor, and Human Rights Committee, among others. They were accompanied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Grace Kuo during the visit to the Presidential Office to meet with Vice President Xiao.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, Speaker Gibson Kanai and his delegation were invited to visit Taiwan from the 22nd to the 27th. The visit marks Kanai’s first trip to Taiwan since taking office. During the visit, they will meet with high-level government and legislative officials, attend a banquet hosted by Legislative Yuan Vice President Tseng Chi-cheng on behalf of Speaker Han Kuo-yu, and a reception by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on behalf of the government.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China also mentioned that Speaker Kanai would visit historical and cultural landmarks in Taiwan, learn about the latest developments in areas such as smart cities and clean energy in the Republic of China, and experience Taiwan’s indigenous culture.
Taiwan and Palau have a long history of fruitful cooperation in various fields such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and sustainable tourism. Following Foreign Minister Joseph Wu’s “overall diplomacy” policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively promotes the “Honorable Nation Project” in Palau, aiming to enhance the close cooperation and friendship between Taiwan and Palau through more in-depth bilateral exchanges.