Li-kuo Chen
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
January 4, 2024
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen
Good afternoon!
On behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, I am delighted to host this luncheon in honor of our guests from the Republic of Somaliland. Your visit further consolidates the friendship between our two nations. I extend my warmest welcome to you all.
On the basis of our shared values, Taiwan and Somaliland have engaged in close collaboration in numerous areas. In 2020, our countries mutually established representative offices, marking an exciting new chapter in Taiwan-Somaliland relations. Since that time, we have strengthened cooperation and achieved remarkable results in domains such as agriculture, health care, and ICT. Other areas—including the economy, trade, and energy—also continue to go from strength to strength.
Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission has played an indispensable role in the democratization of Somaliland. I am pleased that the NEC delegation will cooperate with Taiwan’s Central Election Commission and other relevant institutions to observe Taiwan’s elections and exchange perspectives. This is certain to facilitate further electoral cooperation between Taiwan and Somaliland, as well as creating new opportunities and bolstering bilateral relations.
In closing, I hope that the members of the delegation enjoy a pleasant and productive stay in Taiwan. I would now like to propose a toast: to the health and happiness of everyone here and to the everlasting friendship between our two countries. Thank you!