When President Lai Ching-te accepted the presentation of his credentials by the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Palau to Taiwan, Gaafar J. Uherbelau, this afternoon (9th), President Lai expressed that Taiwan and Palau have profound cultural ties with the South Island and share the value of democracy and freedom. He expressed his gratitude to Palau for its long-standing voice for Taiwan and its firm support for Taiwan's international participation. We hope that the two countries will continue to support each other internationally, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and jointly create a prosperous, smart, and sustainable future.

In his speech, the President said that he was pleased to accept the credentials presented by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Palau Wu Jiefa. On behalf of all Chinese people, he would sincerely welcome Ambassador Wu Jiefa to take up his new post in Taiwan.

The President pointed out that Ambassador Wu Jiefa has very rich qualifications. He has served as Minister of Health of Palau, Deputy Commander of the Emergency Response Center and Special Advisor to the President on Public Health, etc., and has devoted himself to the public health of Palau. Ambassador Wu Jiefa will serve as Minister of Health in 2023 and has come to Taiwan to participate in the "Taiwan Global Health and Welfare Forum" to jointly promote exchanges on health issues between the two countries. Ambassador Wu Jiefa has been deeply relied on by the Palau government for many years. This time he was appointed by President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. to be stationed in Taiwan, which further demonstrates Palau's emphasis on and expectations for the friendship between the two countries.

The President said that over the past two years, the interaction between Taiwan and Palau has become increasingly close, including his visit to Palau after he took office the year before last, the visit of President Hui Shuren and his delegation last year, and the visit of Vice President Xiao Meiqin to Palau in June this year. Minister Lin Jialong also participated in the "Pacific Islands Forum" hosted by Palau at the end of last month. During this process, the two countries jointly witnessed various cooperation results and continued to deepen their friendship.

The President pointed out that in the face of the current regional situation and geopolitical changes, he would like to express special thanks to the government of Palau for speaking out for Taiwan and firmly supporting Taiwan's international participation at the Pacific Islands Forum, the United Nations General Assembly, the World Health Assembly and other important international occasions. This friendship makes Taiwan feel warm.

The President emphasized that Taiwan and Palau have profound cultural ties with the South Island and share the value of democracy and freedom. He hopes that the two countries will continue to support each other internationally in the future, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, contribute to the development of each other and the Indo-Pacific region, and jointly create a prosperous, smart, and sustainable future.

Finally, the President once again welcomed Ambassador Wu Jiefa to Taiwan and asked him to convey Taiwan's sincere greetings to President Hui Shuren and all Palau's good friends. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, the friendship between the two countries will be brought to a higher level.

In his speech, Ambassador Wu Jiefa first extended sincere greetings to President Lai on behalf of President Hui Shuren, the government and the people of the Republic of Palau, and said that he was honored to submit his credentials and officially take office as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Palau to the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Ambassador Wu Jiefa said that in May 1984, the Taiwan Council for International Cooperation and Development sent its first technical mission to Palau to help solve the challenges faced by food production. These selfless experts were important representatives of early Taiwan-Silk relations and laid the foundation for the close partnership between the two countries today. Fifteen years later, Taiwan and Silk Road officially established diplomatic relations in 1999, opening a new chapter in cooperation between the two sides in many areas of common concern.

Ambassador Wu Jiefa mentioned that in addition to formal diplomatic relations, the friendship between Taiwan and Silk Road is also deeply rooted in the common cultural origins of the two peoples. Palau and Taiwan both belong to the Austronesian language family, share ancestral connections that span generations, and share the same value for the ocean, environment, community, cultural preservation, and human development. This connection is also reflected in the voyage of the "Selfless Sharing". The ship's journey across the Pacific demonstrates the revival of traditional sailing skills, ancestral wisdom, and the long-lasting connections between Austronesian peoples. Its voyage between Palau and Taiwan also reminds everyone that the ocean never separates each other, but is closely connected through shared history, cultural traditions and respect for the ocean. These common roots continue to provide an important foundation for friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and Silk Road.

Ambassador Wu Jiefa said that under the leadership of President Lai, the partnership between Taiwan and Palau continues to adhere to the people-centered concept, bringing substantial and long-term impact to the people and communities of both sides. Many Palau students went to Taiwan to study and returned home to contribute to the development of the country with their majors; Palau patients received high-quality medical care in Taiwanese hospitals and returned to their hometowns in good health; technical experts also worked hand in hand with the Palau community to share knowledge, cultivate capabilities and strengthen resilience. These exchanges are the foundation of Taiwan-Silk relations, and the long-lasting friendship between the two peoples has deepened year by year, demonstrating the depth and breadth of Taiwan-Silk partnership.

Ambassador Wu Jiefa thanked President Lai and Vice President Hsiao Meiqin for including Palau as one of the destinations for their first overseas visit after taking office. Recently, Minister Lin led the Taiwan delegation to participate in the 55th Pacific Islands Forum, which also fully demonstrated the importance President Lai attaches to the friendship between Taiwan and Palau.

Ambassador Wu Jiefa said that at the beginning of his term as ambassador, he deeply felt the great responsibility and would work hard to maintain the friendship between Taiwan and Silk Road, work hard to strengthen bilateral cooperation, expand more opportunities for the people of the two countries, and continue to maintain the common values ​​​​that unite Taiwan and Silk Road.