Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

The Honorable Lindiwe Cynthia T. Kunene, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Eswatini;
The Honorable Robert Seraki Matsebe, Representative of the Liaison Office of the Republic of South Africa;
The Honorable Ibrahim Akopari Ahmed, Trade Commissioner of the Nigeria Trade Office;
Excellencies Ambassadors and Honorable Representatives;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen:

Good evening!

1. Rationale and significance of this event
I am very pleased to attend this reception for the 2019 Africa Day Celebration. Fifty-six years ago, on May 25, 1963, 32 national leaders gathered in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, to establish the Organisation of African Unity, which became the African Union on July 9, 2002. As with the European Union that came before it, the African Union has done much to facilitate the integration of its region.

Since the inception of the Organisation of African Unity, we have witnessed the nations and peoples of Africa striving for independence and prosperity. Taiwan has been fortunate enough to work with some of those countries and peoples in pushing forward their national development.

2. Bilateral relations and fruits of cooperation with African nations
Covering 30 million square kilometers, Africa is the world's second-largest continent. With a population of 1.2 billion, it is home to 16 percent of the world's people. The continent is rich in natural resources and blessed with a young workforce. Its yearly imports and exports exceed 300 billion US dollars. With countries averaging a GDP growth rate of 5.5 percent, Africa is currently one of the world's fastest-growing regions. Last year, representatives from 44 countries of the African Union met in Rwanda to sign an agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area. This will accelerate the integration of African commerce and trade, leading the continent into a brand new era.

In 2018, Taiwan's bilateral trade with African nations exceeded 4.6 billion US dollars. Other forms of bilateral exchanges have also been close and frequent. Last year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs organized the 2018 Taiwan Industry Cooperation Mission to South Africa, Eswatini, and Mozambique. The government also commissioned the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) and other institutions to organize the forum Investment Opportunities in Southern Africa. And earlier this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also asked the CIECA to plan the 2019 Economic and Business Cooperation Mission to South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. Likewise, MOFA had the Taiwan External Trade Development Council plan the 2019 Trade Mission to Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Eswatini. These events will help more Taiwanese companies better understand the potential of the market and the unlimited business opportunities Africa offers.

Looking back, since the 1960s, intergovernmental cooperation has played an important role in collaborating with our friends in Africa. For instance, our agricultural and livestock-related cooperation gradually expanded to encompass occupational training, medical programs, volunteer training, and human resources development. Moreover, we have pursued a number of environmentally friendly and sustainable development projects involving renewable energy and other issues. In addition, many resources have been dedicated to helping nurture the generations to come. To this end, we have provided scholarships to hundreds of African students so they can study here in Taiwan. They have typically chosen very pragmatic majors, from medicine to science and engineering.

3. Conclusion
Africa Day symbolizes the high aspirations that the peoples of Africa hold with respect to the principles of freedom and democracy. The level of freedom and prosperity that Taiwan enjoys today took decades of democratization and economic growth. These are the fruits of the combined labor of all our citizens. We thank our allies and other friendly countries in Africa that have supported us over the years. Such friendship has enabled Taiwan to actively participate in the international community. We are always pleased to share with African nations our experiences in promoting core values, such as democracy, economic prosperity, social inclusiveness, and cultural diversity.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone here for your hard work and contributions to further strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and Africa. I wish the African Union a happy birthday, and the entire continent everlasting peace and prosperity.

Thank you very much!