Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
March 26, 2024
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good afternoon!
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it is a pleasure to welcome you to this special event.
The theme for this year’s tea party is “Necessary, Growing, and Outstanding.” The first letters of these three words spell out NGO, signifying that nongovernmental organizations are a necessary, growing, and outstanding component of Taiwanese society.
As well as the local NGOs that are represented here, we are also joined by a growing number of international NGOs that have set up offices in Taiwan. These include Freedom House, the European Values Center for Security Policy, Safeguard Defenders, Terra Renaissance, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation.
The presence of so many INGOs in Taiwan demonstrates that this is a place where the values of freedom, democracy, and justice prevail. I am also happy to see closer links being forged between INGOs and local NGOs through collaboration on important initiatives. When we work together, we are stronger.
In closing, I wish this event every success. May you all enjoy the best of health and happiness in the Year of the Dragon. Thank you.