18th TAIWAN/REPUBLIC OF CHINA
—FORUM COUNTRIES DIALOGUE
Port Vila, Vanuatu
6 August 2010

JOINT STATEMENT

The 18th Taiwan/Republic of China—Forum Countries Dialogue was held at the Palms Resort & Casino in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The Taiwan/Republic of China delegation was led by H.E. Ssu-Tsun Shen, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Forum Island Countries were represented by H.E. Anote Tong, Beretitenti of the Republic of Kiribati, H.E. Johnson Toribiong, President of the Republic of Palau, Hon Kieren Keke, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Finance of the Republic of Nauru, Honorable John Silk, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, H.E. Moses Mose, High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to Fiji, Mr. Lutelu Faavae, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Labour. The Beretitenti of the Republic of Kiribati was the Moderator of the Dialogue

2. Representatives of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Pacific Power Association (PPA), Secretariat of the Pacific Applied Geosciences Commission (SOPAC) and the University of the South Pacific (USP) were also in attendance as Observers.

3. In his opening remarks, the Moderator welcomed the Head of the Taiwan/Republic of China Delegation and distinguished members to the 18th Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue. The Moderator commended the hospitality and the excellent meeting arrangements provided by the people and Government of the Republic of Vanuatu.

4. The Moderator reaffirmed the continued support and commitment of the Governments of Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu in maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan/Republic of China. He also acknowledged the valuable regional assistance provided by Taiwan/Republic of China through the annual contribution to Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP) and the Taiwan/Republic of China – PIF Scholarship Scheme. The Moderator reiterated the region’s position in supporting the continuation of the Scheme.

5. In light of priorities and emerging issues identified at the 41st Forum Leaders Meeting and at the 19th SIS Leaders Meeting, the Moderator called on the Government of Taiwan/Republic of China to align their assistance to the key areas of transport, in particular sub-regional shipping, labour mobility in the context of regional economic integration, energy with respect to renewable energy, and climate change adaptation activities. The Moderator also highlighted emerging issues of food security, strengthening development coordination, gender equality and people living with disabilities.

6. In his opening remarks, the Vice Minister welcomed the presence of the Leaders of the Forum Island Countries and stressed that after 18 years of active contribution, Taiwan/Republic of China hopes to further establish and develop a comprehensive “constructive partnership” with the Forum members. He highlighted future six development cooperation project areas with the Pacific, namely medical cooperation, agriculture, fisheries, clean energy, vocational training and cultural exchange. He also emphasised that these six areas of cooperation will be conducted in line with the principles of the Cairns Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination in the Pacific.

7. The Vice Minister encouraged the implementation of the “Effective Coordination Roundtable” proposed during last year’s 17th Taiwan/Republic of China – Forum Countries Dialogue and renewed the pledge of Taiwan/Republic of China to provide USD$50,000 for the implementation of the project in the spirit of the Cairns Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination.
 

8. The Vice Minister also acknowledged the initiative of the Republic of Palau in putting forward a proposal to the 41st Forum Leaders Meeting and the support from friendly allies to include Taiwan/Republic of China as a full Post-Forum Dialogue member. The Vice Minister expressed the view of the Government of Taiwan/Republic of China that the proposal deserves further consideration by the Forum members.

9. The Vice Minister noted the development of cross-strait relations since the implementation of the Taiwan/Republic of China’s new “flexible diplomacy” in 2008 and hoped that Forum members will support Taiwan/Republic of China’s bid to participate in the UNFCCC and ICAO.
 

10. The meeting discussed the reports on Taiwan/Republic of China’s assistance to the region which included a presentation on Taiwan’s International Cooperation Development Fund (Taiwan/ICDF) work programme, the Regional Development Assistance and Taiwan/Republic of China-Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme, and noted a presentation by SOPAC on the implementation of the Regional Development Assistance and a report by Taiwan/Republic of China on President Ma Ying-jeou’s six nation visit to the region.
 

11. The meeting noted the need to increase funding levels under the Regional Development Assistance in view of the global financial and economic crises and included reconsideration of the timely release of funds to ensure better planning in the utilization of these funds.
 

12. The meeting noted an update from the Secretariat on the implementation of the Cairns Compact and acknowledged the lead taken by Nauru and Kiribati in being the first Forum countries to volunteer under the Peer Review and the contribution of Taiwan in their support of the Peer Review process. The meeting highlighted the flexible nature of Taiwan/Republic of China’s assistance delivery modality as a model of good practice for development coordination and effectiveness.

13. SOPAC expressed deep appreciation to the Government of Taiwan/Republic of China for their assistance to the agency, which totaled just over USD1 million toward projects which covered ocean and islands energy programmes; energy, ICT, freshwater, sanitation, hazards assessments and disaster risk reduction issues. In particular was the assistance toward the “Building capacity to counteract disaster in Pacific Island Countries” project which SOPAC highlighted as an example of true spirit of a partnership.

14. In terms of the assistance for 2010/2011, Taiwan/Republic of China announced that USD500, 000 would be made available for regional projects. The list of approved CROP projects for 2010/2011 is attached as Annex I. In support of the Taiwan/Republic of China-PIF Scholarship Scheme, an additional allocation will be made available. The Pacific Island Countries representatives expressed their overwhelming gratitude to Taiwan/Republic of China for their continued support of the Scholarship Scheme and assistance to the region. Whilst noting the relevance of approved projects is in the interest of all Forum Island Countries, the meeting agreed that greater support should be allocated to projects that directly benefit the Smaller Island States. The meeting also welcomed the full funding allocation to CROP projects this year noting that this would facilitate effective project implementation.
 

15. The meeting expressed strong dissatisfaction at the separate status given to the Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue meeting arrangements and noted that despite past communications to the Forum regarding improvements to current Dialogue arrangements, it was felt that the matter had not been given the necessary attention it deserves at the highest level.
 

16. In reinforcing their strong concern in regard to the status of Taiwan/Republic of China within the Post Forum Dialogue process, the meeting highlighted the following:
(i) the greatly improved bilateral relationship between Mainland China and Taiwan;
(ii) strong support of Taiwan/Republic of China to the principles and practice as espoused in the Cairns Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination in the Pacific; and
(iii) a significant contributor of ODA to the Pacific region and a major development partner in the Pacific region

17. In conclusion, the meeting expressed appreciation to His Excellency Anote Tong, Beretitenti of the Republic of Kiribati for his guidance of the Dialogue. In his closing remarks, the Moderator acknowledged the continued assistance of Taiwan/Republic of China to the region and thanked the distinguished delegations for their constructive contribution and participation.

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
Port Vila, Vanuatu
6 August 2010