August 25, 2020
No. 181
Taiwan and US held videoconference on expanding Taiwan’s international participation; MOFA expressed sincere gratitude for staunch US support
Taiwan and the United States held a videoconference on August 19 concerning issues related to enhancing Taiwan’s international participation. The two sides conducted in-depth discussions to formulate strategies and methods for expanding Taiwan’s international engagement in domains such as public health, the fight against transnational crime, and civil aviation. They also explored ways to gain support from even more like-minded countries for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. The videoconference was especially meaningful as it followed on the heels of the successful visit to Taiwan by US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar II, further highlighting the close ties between Taiwan and the US.
During the videoconference, the US reiterated that it would continue to fully support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchanges. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary General Lily L.W. Hsu expressed gratitude to the US for its unwavering support and emphasized that Taiwan’s role in the international community has garnered increased recognition and visibility thanks to the vigorous support of the US and other like-minded countries. This has helped Taiwan broaden and deepen participation in more international organizations. MOFA will continue to actively expand Taiwan’s international presence in accordance with the principles of professionalism, pragmatism, and making contributions.
Taiwan participants in the videoconference included MOFA Secretary General Hsu and Representative to the US Bi-khim Hsiao, who attended the meeting with colleagues in Taipei and Washington, DC, respectively. US participants included Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Pam Pryor, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Jonathan Fritz, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Nerissa Cook, and Director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan William Brent Christensen. (E)