Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung hosted a banquet for Tuvalu Foreign Affairs and Labor and Trade Minister Paulson Panapa last Thursday.
Both Lin and Panapa stated that the two allies will continue to deepen friendly relations and expand substantive partnership as outlined in a recently signed Treaty of Union and Prosperity.
Tuvalu is a key diplomatic Pacific ally of Taiwan, signing the Taiwan-Tuvalu treaty in 2025 alongside two other cooperative agreements.
In March, Lin visited Tuvalu as a special envoy to the president to witness the efforts of the plan. At the time, he was greatly impressed by what the two had accomplished so far, including the site of the new parliamentary building, which will be built with Taiwan’s help.
During the last Thursday banquet, Lin noted that Tuvalu immediately issued a statement supporting Taiwan after President Lai Ching-te’s trip to Eswatini was delayed by alleged Chinese interference.
He thanked Panapa for Tuvalu’s support, and said that the Foreign Ministry will continue work to deepen relationships and cooperation across various fields as outlined in the framework of the Treaty of Union and Prosperity.
Panapa said that the treaty has already elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership, pointing to future cooperation on climate resilience and Taiwan’s international participation.
He also said he hopes to maintain close cooperation in the areas of ICT, smart agriculture, energy, and healthcare, among others.
