Tien, Chung-kwang
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
November 17, 2023
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good morning!
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcome to the 2023 NGO Leaders Forum. I am delighted to see so many enthusiastic participants and professionals gathered here today.
This is the fourth year that we have organized the NGO Leaders Forum. We are pleased to see that over this time, the event has become a vital platform for exchanging opinions, shaping policies, and, most importantly, strengthening partnerships between our government, NGOs, and global civil society.
Taiwan is a force for good and has long championed such universal values as peace, democracy, freedom, human rights, and gender equality. Your presence today underscores our shared commitment to these values. In an increasingly volatile world, and with authoritarianism and conflicts on the rise, our continued dedication to these values is more crucial than ever. Indeed, it is our collective responsibility to make a difference. The theme of this year’s forum—“Allied by universal values: strengthening partnerships between Taiwan’s government, NGOs, and global civil society”—is highly relevant and empowers us to address global challenges.
At today’s forum, we have been honored to have good friends of Taiwan, Dr. Liberato Bautista and Ms. Denise Scotto, as keynote speakers. Dr. Bautista is president of CoNGO—the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations. He is here at the invitation of the STUF United Fund. Ms. Scotto is vice president of the International Federation of Women in Legal and Juridical Careers and a former UN human rights officer. They have both played important roles in the UN system. We look forward to their inspiring remarks.
As the World Bank puts it, the role of NGOs is increasingly important in today’s world. They relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services or undertake community development. We can see these activities in Taiwan’s NGOs as well. For instance, the STUF United Fund launched the project Stand with Ukraine, Taiwan Can Help to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees. When Türkiye was hit by a deadly earthquake earlier this year, many Taiwanese NGOs, including Tzu Chi, the Red Cross, and the Good Neighbors Foundation were all involved in disaster response and recovery efforts.
All of which have showcases Taiwan’s soft power around the world. Every year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs works with the Foundation of Women’s Rights Promotion and Development and other NGOs on events held alongside the meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and on hosting Taiwan Gender Equality Week. In March, two events—Taiwan Night and Taiwan Main Stage—were held in New York, highlighting Taiwan NGOs’ achievements in promoting women’s rights and gender equality.
Throughout our discussions today, we will explore strategies and actions designed to forge partnerships between the public sector and civil society, analyzing challenges and reflecting on future opportunities. NGOs and the government are close partners, and we must unite and seek each other’s support.
Today’s event promises to be a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collective action. As we navigate through the sessions, let us remain conscious of the values that tie us all together. I wish you all a successful and productive forum. Thank you!