The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes with gratitude the strong global support for Taiwan’s WHA observer status bid. (MOFA)
 

Continued backing from Taiwan’s allies and like-minded partners for the country’s participation in the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said May 24.

Representatives of Haiti, Nauru, Paraguay, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Marshall Islands voiced support for Taiwan’s inclusion May 23 during the general discussion period of the WHA’s 76th session, the MOFA said. They urged the global community to stop politicizing the issue, learn lessons from public health emergencies such as COVID-19 and let Taiwan do its part to strengthen international health security, the ministry added.

According to the MOFA, similar sentiments were expressed by representatives from Taiwan’s like-minded friends including Estonia’s Minister of Health Riina Sikkut, who for the first time called for meaningful participation of all partners, including Taiwan, to benefit global health and well-being, the ministry said.

Representatives from Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg and New Zealand also spoke in favor of Taiwan’s observer status, the MOFA said, adding that they stressed the importance of engaging all stakeholders in the international body.

The government will keep working with allies and like-minded partners to build a more resilient public health network to ensure the well-being of people around the world, the MOFA said. Such close cooperation will also pave the way for Taiwan’s official participation in the WHO and WHA, the ministry added. (YCH-E)