Harry Ho-jen Tseng
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
June 17, 2022
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen:
Welcome to the Global Cooperation and Training Framework virtual workshop on Efforts and Development on Eliminating Hepatitis C.
This is the third GCTF event of the year and the ninth time the topic of public health has taken center stage.
When the GCTF was established in June 2015, one of its primary goals was to provide a platform for Taiwan to contribute knowledge and information on global health issues. We have cohosted a number of workshops with GCTF partners on infectious disease screening, chronic conditions management, and vaccine administration. These events have assisted partner countries in strengthening their medical care systems and helped share Taiwan’s expertise with the world.
Inspired by the World Health Organization’s goal to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030, Taiwan has put forth its own national guidelines with a road map to achieve the WHO target of treating 80 percent of eligible hepatitis C patients by 2025, five years before the WHO deadline.
In today’s workshop, experts will explore not only domestic policies in Taiwan, the US, Japan, and Australia, but also examine WHO guidance for countries seeking validation of elimination of viral hepatitis.
Disease knows no borders. Taiwan is acutely aware of the importance of sharing experience with the international community to address global public health challenges.
That is why Taiwan has also dedicated itself to global antipandemic efforts over the past two years, including participating in the Global COVID-19 Summits led by the United States.
During the second summit last month, we pledged to donate 1.5 million US dollars to support worldwide vaccine coverage, on top of a total of 70 million US dollars in medical supplies that we have donated to more than 80 countries since April 2020.
As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to contribute to global health security, despite political difficulties.
We thank our allies and like-minded countries for speaking out for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in WHO programs and the World Health Assembly.
I would like extend my gratitude to the leading public health experts from the US, Japan, and Australia, as well as our own world-renowned epidemiologist, former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, for joining today’s workshop and contributing to the rich agenda of keynote speeches and panel discussions.
I sincerely hope all the distinguished guests who are joining us today have a fruitful and constructive dialogue on effective prevention and eradication strategies.
As we move toward eliminating viral hepatitis, international cooperation is critical to navigating the last hurdles to achieving our goal. Thank you again for your participation today and I wish this workshop every success.