Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
September 27, 2023
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good evening!
On behalf of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I am honored to confer the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy upon Mr. Perrett in recognition of his remarkable contributions to advancing relations between Taiwan and Australia. Moreover, this ceremony not only celebrates the important work of an exceptional individual but also highlights the enduring and cordial ties between our countries.
Mr. Perrett has long been dedicated to promoting cooperation, exchanges, mutual understanding, and friendship between Taiwan and Australia. In particular, he has played a crucial role in encouraging other MPs to foster positive and supportive relationships with Taiwan. By doing so, voices championing Taiwan have been heard from across the political spectrum in the Australian Parliament. And indeed, in recent years, backing for Taiwan has been magnified both in the Australian Parliament and throughout the government of Australia. I have every confidence that the partnership between Taiwan and Australia will grow even stronger going forward.
Having parliamentarians from like-minded countries visit Taiwan means a lot to us. It signifies that democracies are standing together against authoritarianism. Taiwan is committed to working hand in hand with its partners to safeguard our shared and deeply cherished values. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Perrett for his contributions in facilitating federal parliamentary visits to Taiwan.
In closing, I am sure that the conferment of this Friendship Medal of Diplomacy will serve as a fitting testament to the staunch bond between our countries. I wish Mr. Perrett and our friends from the Australian Parliament the best of health and success and look forward to working with you all to advance our nations’ partnership even further in the years ahead. Thank you!