Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
October 14, 2020
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good evening!
It is a great pleasure to join you all this evening for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of NGO International Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
NGOs have always been an indispensable partner of the government in promoting diplomatic endeavors. In recognition of their crucial role, in October 2000 MOFA established a department to oversee NGO-related international affairs, hoping to expand Taiwan's international engagement through cooperation with NGOs.
Despite Taiwan's unique diplomatic situation, the influence and warm power of Taiwanese NGOs can be seen in fields such as healthcare, gender equality, and humanitarian aid. Although the slogan of 「Taiwan Can Help」 has raised recently, I know our NGO partners have been long fulfilling 「Taiwan Can Help」 in different fields at the forefront. Among our commitment to fulfilling Taiwan's responsibilities as a global citizen, Taiwanese NGOs and the government not only share the same goals, but also complement each other.
Let me share a few examples with you:
First, in democratic transition, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy was the first national-level foundation in Asia to provide support for democratic development. It has made tremendous contributions to deepening democracy and enhancing human rights in Taiwan.
Taiwan has received worldwide recognition for its advancement of gender equality in recent years. Among them is the Garden of Hope Foundation, which has made substantial achievements in promoting international movements for women's rights and gender equality.
In environmental sustainability, the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy has organized the annual Global Corporate Sustainability Forum in Taiwan, the largest such event in Asia since 2018. Interactions and exchanges among international experts have ensured Taiwan's alignment with the latest global developments.
Taiwan is at the forefront of humanitarian aid as well. The Tzu Chi Foundation have brought international attention to the selfless love of the Taiwanese people. Taiwan is widely acclaimed for its strengths in public healthcare, which have not only benefited Taiwanese people but also contributed to global welfare. The Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps has kept providing medical assistance and professional training in countries across the globe, saving countless lives.
Taiwanese NGOs' landmark achievements defy enumeration, and it is indeed impossible to touch on all of them in the course of this speech. Allow me therefore to express our deep appreciation to all our NGO partners for their efforts and contributions over the years. In the years ahead, I am sure the bonds between MOFA and our NGO partners will grow even stronger. We look forward to building even more resilient partnerships and strengthening dialogue mechanisms between the government and civil society for making and implementing policies for international cooperation and participation. Together we can advance the welfare of people across the globe.
In closing, I would like to thank you all once again for taking part in today's event and thus ensuring its success. May you all enjoy the best of health and happiness! Thank you.