Taiwan has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Fiji and the wider Pacific, highlighting partnerships in agriculture, healthcare, technology and climate resilience as it marked its 115th National Day.
Representative of the Taipei Trade Office in Fiji, David Cheng-Wei Wu, made the statement at a reception in Suva on 8 October, attended by former Fiji Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and other guests.
Wu said Taiwan had maintained a presence in Fiji since 1971, with more than five decades of cooperation helping build lasting relationships between the two countries.
He said Taiwan’s contribution extended beyond government-to-government relations, with trust developed through long-term people-to-people exchanges.
During his first two months in Fiji, Wu visited Taiwan Technical Mission sites in Nausori, Sigatoka and Caboni, met a medical team from Mackay Memorial Hospital in Nadi, visited senior citizens in Lautoka and attended the Pacific Media Summit in Savusavu. He also travelled to Palau for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
Wu highlighted Taiwan’s 30 years of democratic development since its first direct presidential election in 1996, saying the island had developed into an open democratic society despite security challenges.
He also highlighted Taiwan’s role in global semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence server industries, saying its technological expertise could support development across the Pacific.
“We therefore want Taiwan to be recognised not only for being the epicentre of AI revolution, but as a trusted partner that contributes constructively to the international community,” Wu said.
He said Taiwan would continue to uphold democracy, strengthen its self-defence capabilities and work with like-minded partners to promote peace and regional stability.
Wu added that Taiwan was committed to supporting Fiji’s development through its experience in technology, healthcare, agriculture and digital transformation.
“Taiwan and Fiji were simply born to be good mates,” he said, noting that both countries celebrate their national days on 10 October.
Former prime minister Chaudhry highlighted Taiwan’s long-standing development assistance to Fiji, particularly in agriculture, aquaculture, healthcare and human resource development.
He said the value of the partnership lay not only in providing equipment and resources, but also in transferring technology, training local personnel and strengthening Fiji’s capacity for sustainable development.
Agriculture remains one of the longest-running areas of cooperation, with the Taiwan Technical Mission working with Fiji since 1978 through demonstration farms, technical assistance, farmer training and the introduction of improved crop varieties.
Chaudhry said cooperation on guava and dragon fruit production had resulted in the production of more than 15,000 guava seedlings and 16,000 dragon fruit seedlings through the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund and Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture.
He also highlighted initiatives supporting smart and climate-resilient agriculture, including the Centre of Agricultural Technology Transfer and the 2026 Resilient Cultivation Promotion Programme.
A memorandum of understanding signed between the Taipei Trade Office and Fiji National University this year is also providing opportunities for students to learn about tissue culture, smart greenhouse technologies and high-value crop production.
In aquaculture, Chaudhry highlighted a five-year Taiwan-Fiji White Shrimp Industry Development Project running from 2026 to 2030.
The project aims to establish a sustainable shrimp value chain by improving the supply of shrimp fry and feed, strengthening farmer training and encouraging private-sector investment.
He said the initiative was intended to build Fiji’s technical expertise, infrastructure and commercial capacity to support a sustainable industry.
Healthcare cooperation was another key area, with a medical team from Taiwan’s Mackay Memorial Hospital visiting Nadi Hospital in September to provide free medical services.
The visit marked the eighth time the hospital’s medical team had travelled to Fiji. An infectious disease specialist joined the team for the first time this year, sharing expertise with local health professionals on HIV prevention and treatment.
Chaudhry said scholarships, professional training, workshops and exchange programmes also helped Fijian students, officials and technical personnel gain skills and knowledge they could apply at home.
He welcomed Taiwan’s contribution to regional development through its partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum.
Taiwan provided US$2 million to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in 2026 and committed a further US$3 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), which aims to strengthen Pacific Island countries’ resilience to climate change and natural disasters.
The reception showcased Taiwan-Fiji agricultural cooperation, including a map of Taiwan arranged with fruits and vegetables grown with support from the Taiwan Technical Mission and an aquarium displaying the white shrimp aquaculture project.
