15th Taiwan/ROC-Forum Countries Dialogue
FIFTEENTH TAIWAN/ROC–FORUM COUNTRIES DIALOGUE
Nuku’alofa, Tonga
19 October 2007
JOINT STATEMENT
The Fifteenth Taiwan/ROC–Forum Countries Dialogue was held at the Black Pearl, Nuku’alofa on 19 October 2007. The Taiwan/ROC delegation was led by HE Chang, Siao-yue, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Forum Island Countries were represented at the Dialogue by His Excellency Ludwig Scotty, President of the Republic of Nauru, Hon. David Adeang, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Finance & Economic Planning, Republic of Nauru; Hon. Temmy Shmull, Minister of State, Republic of Palau, Hon Patteson Oti, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Solomon Islands; Hon Taukelina Finikaso, Minister of Communications, Transport and Tourism, Tuvalu; Ambassador Mack Kaminaga, Ambassador of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and Mrs Makurita Baaro, Special Envoy for the Republic of Kiribati. Representatives of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (PIFFA), Pacific Islands Development Programme (PIDP), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Pacific Power Association (PPA), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), and the University of the South Pacific (USP) were also in attendance as Observers. The President of the Republic of Nauru was the Moderator of the Dialogue.
The delegates expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Tonga for their warm welcome and generous hospitality.
In his opening remarks, the Moderator welcomed the Head and members of the delegation of Taiwan/ROC. The Moderator reaffirmed that the Governments of Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu are committed to maintaining their formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan/ROC. The Moderator acknowledged the benefits to the region from Taiwan/ROC assistance, which was channelled through the Dialogue process to the various regional organisations as well as through other bilateral and multilateral means. He highlighted in particular, assistance received through the Taiwan/ROC-Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme as this addressed in an effective way the region’s need for human resources development.
The Moderator requested consideration of support to projects in the areas of transportation (particularly air services and shipping services), health (with a particular emphasis on arresting the increasing incidences of non communicable diseases), energy (where coordination of projects in the area of renewable energy is necessary), and the exploration of movement of labour to the growing job markets in developed countries.
Vice Minister Chang welcomed the presence of Forum Island Countries at the Fifteenth Taiwan/ROC-Forum Countries Dialogue, which reflected the very positive response to Taiwan/ROC's active engagement with Forum members.
Taiwan/ROC was encouraged by the efforts of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) towards economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security, which will be pursued as part of the Pacific Plan. Taiwan/ROC was willing to share its own development experiences with Pacific Island Countries. Taiwan/ROC had contributed a total of US$15 million over the last fifteen years to the development of the region in areas such as education, agriculture, fisheries, health, energy, youth and women's development, culture and marine industries. These regional projects were in addition to the bilateral projects that were being supported in member countries.
Taiwan/ROC announced an additional US$500,000 for the Taiwan/ROC-Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme bringing the total value to US$4.0million. This was warmly welcomed by the Pacific Island Countries.
The meeting discussed the outcomes of reports on assistance to the region; a progress report on the Taiwan/ROC-Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme; a report on fishery co-operation in the Pacific region; a report on Taiwan’s ICDF assistance to Forum Island Countries and Taiwan/ROC regional assistance for 2008.
The meeting noted with satisfaction the close relationship between Forum countries and Taiwan/ROC and reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthen relations between the region and Taiwan/ROC. The meeting reiterated that Taiwan’s status in the Post Forum Dialogue must be examined and reviewed with an intent to upgrade it to the same as other dialogue partners on an equal basis. The current dialogue arrangements regarding Taiwan, cause an appearance of disrespect for Taiwan’s allies, all of whom are full members of the Pacific Islands Forum and they desire Taiwan to be present at relevant meetings. It is recommended that the Pacific allies bring this issue to the attention of the Leaders of each of the six Allies, for discussion at the next Taiwan Pacific Allies Summit in Taiwan.
Taiwan/ROC announced that US$665,700 would be made available in 2008 for regional projects. The list of projects is attached as Annex I. This is in addition to the US$500,000 Taiwan/ROC toward the Taiwan/ROC-Forum Island Countries Scholarship Scheme, bringing the total assistance to US$1,165,700 for 2008. The Pacific Island Countries representatives thanked Taiwan/ROC for its continuing generosity and assistance made available through the regional organisations. While noting the relevance of the approved projects to the interests of member countries, the Dialogue agreed that greater support should be given to the projects that directly benefit members, for example the Smaller Island States Development Fund and Unit at the Forum Secretariat.
In conclusion, the meeting expressed its appreciation to His Excellency Ludwig Scotty, President of the Republic of Nauru, for his guidance of the Dialogue. The Moderator also thanked members of the Panel for their cordial and productive discussions and Vice Minister Chang and her delegation for their attendance.
Nuku’alofa, Tonga
19 October 2007
ANNEX I: TAIWAN/ROC ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS 2007/2008
Nuku’alofa, Tonga
19 October 2007
JOINT STATEMENT
The Fifteenth Taiwan/ROC–Forum Countries Dialogue was held at the Black Pearl, Nuku’alofa on 19 October 2007. The Taiwan/ROC delegation was led by HE Chang, Siao-yue, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Forum Island Countries were represented at the Dialogue by His Excellency Ludwig Scotty, President of the Republic of Nauru, Hon. David Adeang, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Finance & Economic Planning, Republic of Nauru; Hon. Temmy Shmull, Minister of State, Republic of Palau, Hon Patteson Oti, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Solomon Islands; Hon Taukelina Finikaso, Minister of Communications, Transport and Tourism, Tuvalu; Ambassador Mack Kaminaga, Ambassador of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and Mrs Makurita Baaro, Special Envoy for the Republic of Kiribati. Representatives of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (PIFFA), Pacific Islands Development Programme (PIDP), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Pacific Power Association (PPA), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), and the University of the South Pacific (USP) were also in attendance as Observers. The President of the Republic of Nauru was the Moderator of the Dialogue.
The delegates expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Tonga for their warm welcome and generous hospitality.
In his opening remarks, the Moderator welcomed the Head and members of the delegation of Taiwan/ROC. The Moderator reaffirmed that the Governments of Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu are committed to maintaining their formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan/ROC. The Moderator acknowledged the benefits to the region from Taiwan/ROC assistance, which was channelled through the Dialogue process to the various regional organisations as well as through other bilateral and multilateral means. He highlighted in particular, assistance received through the Taiwan/ROC-Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme as this addressed in an effective way the region’s need for human resources development.
The Moderator requested consideration of support to projects in the areas of transportation (particularly air services and shipping services), health (with a particular emphasis on arresting the increasing incidences of non communicable diseases), energy (where coordination of projects in the area of renewable energy is necessary), and the exploration of movement of labour to the growing job markets in developed countries.
Vice Minister Chang welcomed the presence of Forum Island Countries at the Fifteenth Taiwan/ROC-Forum Countries Dialogue, which reflected the very positive response to Taiwan/ROC's active engagement with Forum members.
Taiwan/ROC was encouraged by the efforts of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) towards economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security, which will be pursued as part of the Pacific Plan. Taiwan/ROC was willing to share its own development experiences with Pacific Island Countries. Taiwan/ROC had contributed a total of US$15 million over the last fifteen years to the development of the region in areas such as education, agriculture, fisheries, health, energy, youth and women's development, culture and marine industries. These regional projects were in addition to the bilateral projects that were being supported in member countries.
Taiwan/ROC announced an additional US$500,000 for the Taiwan/ROC-Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme bringing the total value to US$4.0million. This was warmly welcomed by the Pacific Island Countries.
The meeting discussed the outcomes of reports on assistance to the region; a progress report on the Taiwan/ROC-Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme; a report on fishery co-operation in the Pacific region; a report on Taiwan’s ICDF assistance to Forum Island Countries and Taiwan/ROC regional assistance for 2008.
The meeting noted with satisfaction the close relationship between Forum countries and Taiwan/ROC and reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthen relations between the region and Taiwan/ROC. The meeting reiterated that Taiwan’s status in the Post Forum Dialogue must be examined and reviewed with an intent to upgrade it to the same as other dialogue partners on an equal basis. The current dialogue arrangements regarding Taiwan, cause an appearance of disrespect for Taiwan’s allies, all of whom are full members of the Pacific Islands Forum and they desire Taiwan to be present at relevant meetings. It is recommended that the Pacific allies bring this issue to the attention of the Leaders of each of the six Allies, for discussion at the next Taiwan Pacific Allies Summit in Taiwan.
Taiwan/ROC announced that US$665,700 would be made available in 2008 for regional projects. The list of projects is attached as Annex I. This is in addition to the US$500,000 Taiwan/ROC toward the Taiwan/ROC-Forum Island Countries Scholarship Scheme, bringing the total assistance to US$1,165,700 for 2008. The Pacific Island Countries representatives thanked Taiwan/ROC for its continuing generosity and assistance made available through the regional organisations. While noting the relevance of the approved projects to the interests of member countries, the Dialogue agreed that greater support should be given to the projects that directly benefit members, for example the Smaller Island States Development Fund and Unit at the Forum Secretariat.
In conclusion, the meeting expressed its appreciation to His Excellency Ludwig Scotty, President of the Republic of Nauru, for his guidance of the Dialogue. The Moderator also thanked members of the Panel for their cordial and productive discussions and Vice Minister Chang and her delegation for their attendance.
Nuku’alofa, Tonga
19 October 2007
ANNEX I: TAIWAN/ROC ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS 2007/2008
