December 28, 2024
No. 468
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung on December 27 hosted a luncheon to welcome a Ukrainian delegation led by Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy. During the event, the two sides exchanged views on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the peaceful development of Ukraine, the strengthening of local municipal exchanges, the building of resilient cities, and other initiatives. In addition to sharing with the guests Taiwan’s experience and insights regarding economic transformation and high-tech industrial development, Minister Lin stressed that cities in Taiwan and Ukraine could engage in exchanges at the annual Smart City Summit and Expo held in Taiwan.
The visiting delegation thanked the Taiwan government for its humanitarian assistance and support to Ukraine, adding that the Ukrainian people were deeply moved by Taiwan’s goodwill. They expressed the wish that the two countries could further engage in reciprocal support and cooperation on the basis of friendship and mutual trust.
Lviv is the largest city in western Ukraine. Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, it has become an important hub for other countries to deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine as well as a major medical base to which wounded soldiers and patients are transferred for follow-up treatment. On December 27, the Taipei Representative Office (TRO) in Poland, the Lviv city government, and the Multidisciplinary Clinical Hospital of Emergency and Intensive Care signed a memorandum on cooperation and partnership for the reconstruction of the UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation Center in Lviv. The virtual signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu. The government of Taiwan will fund the renovation of a rehabilitation facility, which will be named the Taiwan Friendship Building to accentuate Taiwan’s donation and friendship.
Speaking as Taiwan’s representative at the MOU signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Wu stated that postsurgery rehabilitation would be available to military personnel and civilians at the Taiwan Friendship Building in the UNBROKEN center and that the Taiwan government would continue to work with Lviv on the basis of mutual trust and support so as to help Ukraine work toward a brighter future amidst current adversity. Mayor Sadovyy presented a briefing on UNBROKEN’s operations and the recovery of those injured. Noting that the rehabilitation facility to be renovated with Taiwan government funding would benefit more Ukrainian patients, he expressed heartfelt appreciation to the government and people of Taiwan.
UNBROKEN is a national rehabilitation center supported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and overseen by the Lviv city government. The center includes a general hospital, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation center, a surgery facility, a prosthetics manufacturing facility, and temporary housing. To date, more than 940,000 Ukrainian patients have received medical treatment at this nationally renowned center. The facility to be renovated with Taiwan’s assistance is a seven-story building located in the western part of the center. Once the project is completed, it will be home to specialized departments and provide such diverse medical and rehabilitation services as physical therapy, psychological consultations, and prosthetic fittings. It is expected to have the capacity to serve 13,000 patients simultaneously. (E)