New Southbound Policy Portal

Foreign Minister Wu to attend Palau presidential inauguration

President Tsai Ing-wen has named Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu as her special envoy for the inauguration of Palau President-elect Surangel Whipps Jr. and Vice President-elect J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jan. 12.
 
During his trip to the Pacific ally Jan. 20-22, Wu is also scheduled to meet with outgoing President Tommy Remengesau Jr. and National Congress leaders, as well as inspect Taiwan-backed cooperation projects, the ministry said.
 
According to the MOFA, Tsai is the only head of state invited to the inauguration, a fact that underscores the importance of bilateral relations to Palau’s government and its acknowledgement of Taiwan’s success in managing COVID-19.
 
Taiwan and Palau have enjoyed frequent top-level exchanges and a robust relationship since establishing official ties in 1999, with the ally regularly voicing support for the country in international organizations, the MOFA said.
 
The long-standing friendship is reflected in various bilateral cooperation projects spanning areas like agriculture, clean energy, culture, education, fisheries, health care, infrastructure and medicine, the MOFA said. Both sides are also studying the possibility of arranging a travel bubble to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Palau’s economy, it added. (SFC-E)
 
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