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By Chen Yun and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) is to lead a delegation to Palau from Saturday to Wednesday next week at the invitation of Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr, the Presidential Office said today.
The trip is to mark Hsiao’s first official state visit since taking office, and include Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ger Baushuan (葛葆萱), Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) told reporters at a news conference.
President William Lai (賴清德) designated Hsiao to lead the delegation in response to Whipps’ invitation, she said.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Asked how the government is evaluating the risk of Chinese interference, Kuo said that the nation’s diplomatic and national security teams closely monitor all related intelligence for any overseas trip by the president or vice president.
The question was asked in reference to an incident in late April, when Lai was forced to postpone a visit to ally Eswatini in Africa after China pressured neighboring countries to revoke his chartered flight’s overflight clearance.
Hsiao’s visit would deepen the friendship between Taiwan and Palau, promote mutual assistance and shared prosperity, enhance the well-being of the people of both countries, and advance their contributions to global progress and development, Kuo said.
There are three key goals for the trip, the first of which is to deepen bilateral ties by meeting with Palauan leaders, she said.
The second is to promote sustainable tourism in Palau by visiting major attractions and promoting the nation as a tourist destination for Taiwanese, Kuo said.
The third is to review the Taiwan-Palau Prosperity Program and assess the results of bilateral cooperation across healthcare, agriculture and public infrastructure, she added.
On travel arrangements, Ger said that the overall planning adheres to the four principles of “comfort, safety, convenience and dignity,” adding that the delegation is to take direct flights to and from Palau.
During the five-day trip, Hsiao would meet with important Palauan leaders, including Whipps and members of Palauan National Congress, Ger said.
She is to also visit Taiwan’s technical mission in Palau, the Palau National Aquaculture Center and Belau National Hospital, as well as attend a ceremony for completed Taiwan-assisted infrastructure projects and a welcome banquet hosted by the Palauan government, he said.
The delegation would visit some of Palau’s sustainable scenic sites with Whipps, promoting Palauan tourism to the Taiwanese public, Ger said.
In addition to official engagements, Hsiao is to visit local communities and businesses to strengthen exchanges with the Palauan people, as well as Taiwan’s embassy to encourage diplomatic staff, technical mission members, medical volunteers and overseas Taiwanese residents, he added.
