Li-kuo Chen
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
February 22, 2024
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen:
It is a pleasure to host this banquet in honor of Minister Mohamed. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my warmest welcome to you.
Based on our shared values of freedom and democracy, Taiwan and Somaliland established representative offices in each other’s capitals in 2020.
Since that time, we have strengthened cooperation and accomplished a great deal in the areas of healthcare, agriculture, ICT, and education.
Together, we are aiming for peace, resilience, and democratization. I would like to show my appreciation for your staunch support.
We have noted that the Somaliland government has attached importance to the fishery sector to bolster economic growth and ensure food security. Taiwan’s government has integrated resources from NGOs and educational institutions to assist Somaliland in this effort.
World Vision Taiwan, for example, has funded a fisheries livelihood project that benefits fishing communities in Berbera by providing equipment and training. National Taiwan Ocean University has awarded students from Berbera Maritime and Fisheries Academy scholarships to study fishery management in Taiwan.
We believe there is a promising future for the fishery sector in Somaliland and we will work together to further that goal through knowledge transfer and capacity building.
I trust that you had a fruitful discussion with the director general of our Fisheries Agency this morning. I am convinced that, with our joint efforts, both of our nations will benefit from this cherished partnership.
Once again, I welcome you to Taiwan and wish you a pleasant and productive stay.