November 7, 2022
No.330
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) held a reception on November 7 to announce the signing of the Taiwan-US MOU on Development and Humanitarian Assistance Cooperation. Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu presided over the event. In attendance were Director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Sandra Oudkirk, Secretary General of the International Development and Cooperation Fund (TaiwanICDF) Timothy T. Y. Hsiang, and the Ambassadors and Representatives of several diplomatic allies and like-minded countries.
The MOU was signed in Washington, DC, by Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) Hsiao Bi-khim and Managing Director of AIT’s Washington Office Ingrid Larson on November 3 local time. The ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Isobel Coleman and officials from the US Department of State. Under the MOU’s framework, TaiwanICDF and USAID will continue to deepen cooperation in a wide range of domains, including international development assistance, humanitarian assistance, capacity building, training, and knowledge transfer. On the same day, Taiwan and the United States also signed the MOU for Cooperation on a Pacific American Fund: US-Taiwan Partnership and the Arrangement for Technical Cooperation for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Businesses in Paraguay. These accords highlight the Taiwan and US commitment to enhancing development and increasing resilience in the Pacific and Latin America.
Speaking at the reception, Minister Wu pointed out that Taiwan and the United States have in recent years steadily deepened their close partnership based on the shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. He also stated that the two countries have institutionalized cooperation in multiple areas. Among the best examples of the deepening and institutionalizing of Taiwan-US relations are the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, the Science and Technology Cooperation Conference, the Education Initiative, and the establishment of a coast guard working group. The MOU and the other two cooperation agreements announced today demonstrate that Taiwan and the United States are willing to steadily advance cooperation and are committed to promoting freedom, prosperity, and development in the Pacific and Latin America.
The MOU also highlights the fact that Taiwan and the United States are further institutionalizing their robust partnership in promoting development and humanitarian assistance. The two countries will build on this solid foundation and their shared values to bolster cooperation with Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and strengthen their close global partnership. (E)