16th Taiwan/ROC-Forum Countries Dialogue
Press Statement (90/08)
21st August 2008 SIXTEENTH TAIWAN/REPUBLIC OF CHINA –FORUM COUNTRIES DIALOGUE Alofi, Niue 21 August 2008 JOINT STATEMENT The Sixteenth Taiwan/Republic of China–Forum Countries Dialogue was held at the Coral Gardens, Alofi, Niue on 21 August 2008. The five member Taiwan/Republic of China delegation was led by HE. Andrew Li-Yan HSIA, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Forum Island Countries were represented at the Dialogue by His Excellency H.E Marcus Stephens, President of the Republic of Nauru; Hon. Derek Sikua, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands; Hon. Temmy Shmull, Special Envoy and Minister of State of Palau, Hon. Steven Abana, Solomon Islands Minister of National Planning and Aid Coordination; Mr Enele Sopoaga, Special Envoy & Secretary for Foreign Affairs & Labour of Tuvalu; Mrs Tessie Lambourne, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration of Kiribati, Mr Fred Pedro, Deputy Chief Secretary, Office of the President of Marshall Islands Representatives of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Pacific Islands Development Programme (PIDP), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Pacific Islands Development Programme (PIDP), Pacific Power Association (PPA), South Pacific Board for Educational Assessment (SPBEA), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), and Secretariat of the Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), were also in attendance as Observers. The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands was the Moderator of the Dialogue. The delegates expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the Government and people of Niue for their warm welcome and generous hospitality. The meeting reaffirmed the long-standing and close cooperative ties between Forum Island Countries and the Taiwan/Republic of China. Members reaffirmed their pledge to continue to strengthen their relations. In his opening remarks, the Moderator welcomed the Head and members of the delegation of Taiwan/Republic of China. 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/Republic of China. The Moderator acknowledged the benefits provided to the region by Taiwan/Republic of China, which was channelled through the Dialogue process to various regional organisations as well as via other bilateral and multilateral means. He highlighted in particular, assistance received through the Taiwan/Republic of China-Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme which was considered a successful initiative which addressed human resourced development in the region. The meeting expressed its dissatisfaction with the current arrangements of the Taiwan/ROC Dialogue and noted that despite past communications to the Forum regarding their desire on improving the current arrangements, to date no satisfactory changes had been made. The meeting underscored the importance of the Taiwan/Republic of China Dialogue. The Moderator will write to the Forum Chair to raise the desire of the Taiwan/Republic of China Allies to have their Post Forum Dialogue arrangement mainstreamed with the Forum Dialogue process. The Moderator and members requested consideration of support to projects in the areas of labour mobility, bulk procurement (fuel and pharmaceuticals), regional shipping and air services, renewable energy, food security, sustainable financing for climate change, health, a regional meteorological service and capacity building. Deputy Minister Hsia welcomed the presence of Forum Island Countries at the Sixteenth Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue, which was a positive reflection of their government’s active engagement with Forum member countries. Taiwan/Republic of China was encouraged by the efforts of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) towards economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security, which represent key initiatives under the Pacific Plan. Taiwan/Republic of China was willing to share its own development experiences with Forum Island Countries. Reports on outcomes of the Taiwan/ Republic of China assistance to the region; the Taiwan/Republic of China-PIF Scholarship Scheme and the Regional Development Assistance for 2009, were discussed at the meeting. 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/Republic of China. Taiwan/Republic of China announced that US$406,000 would be made available in 2009 for regional projects. The list of projects is attached as Annex I. As regard to the Taiwan/ROC PIF Scholarship Scheme a decision will be made next year on the next total funding commitment. The Forum Island Countries representatives thanked Taiwan/Republic of China for its continuing generosity and support made available through the regional organisations and noted the relevance of the approved projects to the interests of member countries. In conclusion, the meeting expressed its appreciation to Hon. Derek Sikua, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands for his guidance of the Dialogue. The Moderator also thanked members of the Panel for their cordial and productive discussions and Deputy Minister Hsia and his delegation for their attendance. Annex I: Regional Development Assistance: Approved CROP Projects for 2008/2009 PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM FISHERIES AGENCY (FFA) PROJECT TITLE SUMMARY BUDGET USD 1 Special Needs, Priorities and Aspirations of Small Islands Developing States Purpose of the project is to provide special assistance to smaller island developing states to address their national needs and aspirations relating to effective fisheries management. $50,000 2 Administration Vehicle and Luggage Trailer The purpose of the project is to replace the official administration vehicle and purchase a luggage trailer which will be used for mail runs, banking, cargo collection, airport shuttle runs $46,000 SUB-TOTAL $96,000 PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT (PIFS) PROJECT TITLE SUMMARY BUDGET USD 2 Smaller Island States Development Fund Purpose of the project is to provide a quick & flexible response to crucial components of the SIS development programmes which are not covered by aid programmes. The requests should contribute to improving the social & economic welfare of SIS $30,000 SUB TOTAL $30,000 PACIFIC POWER ASSOCIATION (PPA) PROJECT TITLE SUMMARY BUDGET USD 1 Pacific Islands Power Utility Engineers Solar Photovoltaic Workshop The purpose of the project is to assist Pacific Island Countries acquire technical capacity to conduct site assessments, design, procure, construct, operate and maintain solar photovoltaic systems $30,000 SUB-TOTAL $30,000 SOUTH PACIFIC BOARD FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT (SPBEA) 1 Training in the use of assessment to support learning in the Pacific Region The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of assessment officers in regional countries to use assessment data in a manner directed at improving the learning of students. The objectives of the workshop are: to consider and analyse assessment data derived from a national examination, and form a pecialized test; to interpret the analysed data enabling meaningful reports to be constructed; and to frame reports based on the data from a national examination and data from a pecialized test $30,000 SUB-TOTAL $30,000 SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY (SPC) PROJECT TITLE SUMMARY BUDGET USD 1 Vocational and skills training for the Pacific Youth using a community based approach The overall purpose of the project is to provide technical support to local communities in rural areas for improved employability. This will be achieved through the following objectives: to provide training for target groups in community empowerment, pecialized technical and vocational skills, career guidance, core work skills and employability through on-the-job training and apprenticeship; to adapt CB-TREE concepts, methodology and strategies to community and national context; and to assist participating governments to draft or strengthen national policy on community based training approaches $20,000 2 Developing Kiribati's Community Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management Programme (CE-bFMP) The project aims at the sustainable management of coastal fisheries resources through the establishment of a CE-bFMP and the development of alternative sources for food security and income generating activities $20,000 3 Promotion and development of sport fishing operation in the Pacific Islands Purpose of the project is to provide coastal communities in the region with alternative income generation opportunities by setting up environmentally friendly and economically sustainable tourism-oriented sport fishing operations $10,000 4 Support for the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts, Solomon Islands, 2012 The overall purpose of the project is to build the capacity of the region to host regional events such as the Festival of Arts with an emphasis on preparations for the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts to be held in the Solomon Islands in 2012. This will be achieved via the following objectives: to provide technical support to National Festival Organising Committee (NFOC); to provide the opportunity for past hosts to share experiences of hosting large scale events; to document the preparatory process through written and audio-visual means; and to establish and build the capacity of the Pacific Regional Team to provide this support for the future $30,000 SUB-TOTAL $80,000 SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (SPREP) PROJECT TITLE SUMMARY BUDGET USD 1 Productive Utilisation of Renewable Energy in Small Island States (Pure SIS) The purpose of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the Pacific Island Countries, Small Island States States in particular, to productively utilise their renewable energy resources to reduce their dependence on fossil fuel, improve energy efficiency and thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions $50,000 SUB-TOTAL $50,000 PACIFIC APPLIED GEOSCIENCE COMMISSION (SOPAC) PROJECT TITLE SUMMARY BUDGET USD 1 Regional Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme Purpose of the project is to provide support in the sectors of water, sanitation and hygiene so as to contribute to the improvement of rural and urban communities capacity to effectively plan and manage their own water, sanitation and hygiene sectors $40,000 SUB-TOTAL $40,000 UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC (USP) PROJECT TITLE SUMMARY BUDGET USD 1 Addressing achievement gaps in science in the Marshall Islands To establish partnerships between the USP campus in the Marshall Islands, Office of the President of RMI, the Ministry of Health and middle and high schools in RMI to provide educational experiences to science students in grade 8-12 $25,000.00 2 Implementing ICT-Based Curriculum Differentiation Materials to Promote Environmental Sustainability in 3 Pacific Countries –Fiji, Tuvalu and Nauru To inculcate ICT-based curriculum materials to promote environmental sustainability amongst young people in Fiji, Tuvalu and Nauru based on scientific knowledge and traditional empirical wisdom on Pacific sustainability. $25,000.00 SUB-TOTAL $50,000.00 GRAND TOTAL $406,000 |
2008