Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
November 29, 2021
(As Delivered)
Honorable Matas Maldeikis;
Honorable Jānis Vūcans;
Honorable Jüri Jaanson;
honorable members of the delegation;
Ladies and gentlemen:
Welcome to Taiwan! I am truly honored to welcome the first joint delegation of MPs from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to Taiwan. Having recently concluded a visit to Europe, I am particularly happy to meet with friends from Europe again, this time in my country.
Lately, relations between Taiwan and the Baltic nations have seen tremendous progress in all domains. Our former Vice President Chen, the economic and trade mission led by Minister Kung, have all just returned from our respective fruitful visits to the region. (In fact, the Ministry’s Department of European Affairs has been half empty because of these missions! I might have to consider double the size of this Department if the momentum carries on.) I want to thank all the honorable MPs for your efforts in fostering closer ties with Taiwan, as well as showing staunch support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
The recent opening of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania has been an important boost of morale in our society. There is nothing more encouraging than knowing that thousands of miles away, you have friends who recognize your fight for a greater cause, and is willing to stand with you in face of repressions and coercions. Thank you all for your friendship and ommitment, and I am confident that as interactions increase, more people in Taiwan would come to appreciate the spirit of the Baltic Way. Indeed, the 675 kilometer human chain linking together the capitals of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia thirty years ago continues to inspire many more in their pursuit of democracy.
Taiwan and the Baltic nations have an important partnership in sharing the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. And we both confront authoritarian attempts to undermine these values through hybrid warfare maneuverings. This makes supporting one another all the more significant. My colleague and I are ready to join hands with you to make our countries more resilient and prosperous together.
Thank you all once again for your steadfast support. In closing, please allow me to propose a toast: to strong bilateral relations and everlasting friendship between Taiwan and the Baltic nations, and to your continued success and good health! Thank you!