A proposal by 11 diplomatic allies of the Republic of China (Taiwan) urging the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly as an observer was not included in the agenda of the 70th WHA, which commenced in Geneva this morning.
Nebie Boubie, a health official and midwife from Burkina Faso in West Africa, spent three months from March to June last year receiving on-the-job instruction in modern procedures and technologies at a medical facility in eastern Taiwan’s Hualien County. According to the 40-year-old, the training program, implemented by Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital in collaboration with the Taipei City-based International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), greatly strengthened his clinical knowledge and
Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies have submitted proposals to the World Health Organization endorsing Taiwan’s participation as an observer at the World Health Assembly, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs May 15.
President Tsai Ing-wen’s New Southbound Policy was recently spotlighted in articles by six leading media outlets in South and Southeast Asia, underscoring the effectiveness of the initiative in deepening people-to-people and trade ties between Taiwan and the regions.
The Office of the President and Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed May 12 deep regret and displeasure over remarks by a World Health Organization official citing an absence of cross-strait understanding as a reason for not inviting Taiwan to attend as an observer at the World Health Assembly taking place later this month in Geneva.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) has not been invited to attend the 70th World Health Assembly this year. Nonetheless, it has the obligation—and its citizens have the right—to participate in discussions on global health and disease prevention issues, a fact that is reflected in the worldwide support Taiwan has received. The ROC government takes global health cooperation very seriously, and is determined to play a role in international epidemic control efforts. As such, the Ministry of Foreign Affa
Amb. Tien Chung-Kwang (1st right) thumbs up with Hon. Wang Mei-Hua (2nd left), Vice Minister of ROC (Taiwan) Ministry of Economic Affairs, Kuo Lin-Wu (2nd right), Vice Chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and Francis Tsai (1st left), Chairman of India Economic and Trade Committee under the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association in front of the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion at the 3rd ‘Smart Cities Expo India’ May 10, 2017.
The World Health Organization (WHO) belongs to the whole world. It concerns itself with the health of all mankind. Taiwan is a member of the international community, and as such, its people are entitled to enjoy the same rights to good health as everyone else on Earth. There is no reason why we should be excluded. The truth of this principle is self-evident.
As part of the implementation of the New Southbound Policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a cross-government meeting of agencies in April to discuss the second round of visa-relaxation measures for New Southbound Policy target countries, including trial of visa-free treatment for Philippine nationals.
“The program is a wonderful platform for promoting mutual understanding, boosting relations and facilitating friendship between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies and other partner states,” MOFA Deputy Minister Wu Chih-chung said during the ceremony.
