October 5, 2015
No. 204
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China expresses its deep gratitude for remarks supporting the ROC made by heads of state, heads of government, and representatives of 16 ROC diplomatic allies at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015, held from September 25 to 27, and the General Debate of the 70th UN General Assembly, held from September 28 to October 3.
Diplomatic allies praised the ROC government for its contributions to maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait. They also called on the UN to explore appropriate ways to include the ROC in the UN system, especially in the International Civil Aviation Organization, World Health Organization, and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), thereby better ensuring the wellbeing of all mankind.
Those who spoke in favor of the ROC at the Sustainable Development Summit and General Debate included the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize; the President of Burkina Faso; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala; the President of Haiti; the President of Kiribati; the President of the Marshall Islands; the President of Nauru; the Permanent Representative to the UN of Palau; the President of Paraguay; the Prime Minister of St. Christopher and Nevis; the Minister for External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation of St. Lucia; the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of São Tomé and Príncipe; the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands; the King of Swaziland; and the Minister for the Environment, Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade of Tuvalu.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Marshall Islands, the President of Nauru, the Prime Minister of St. Christopher and Nevis, and the Prime Minister of Tuvalu commended the ROC for assisting their countries in realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and for demonstrating leadership as a key development partner. They also called on the UN to accommodate the ROC in international mechanisms, particularly the UNFCCC and the UN Environment Assembly.
Meanwhile, on September 18, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York; the Permanent Missions to the UN of Tuvalu, Palau, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and the Academic Council on the United Nations System jointly held an international symposium—Sustainable Development for All: Global Commitment and Action. The event gave the UN community a better understanding of the ROC’s successful efforts in realizing the MDGs as well as its willingness and ability to tackle climate change and development issues, while highlighting the need for the UN to ensure ROC participation.
MOFA once again thanks diplomatic allies for publicly conveying their firm support of the ROC’s meaningful participation in the UN system at the Sustainable Development Summit and General Debate. In accordance with the principles of safeguarding sovereignty, protecting national dignity, and advancing the people’s welfare, MOFA will continue to seek international backing for the ROC’s substantive involvement. (E)