Solomon Islands has again pledged unwavering solidarity with the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in its noble quest for participation in the United Nations (UN) system and its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“We are together on this mission. How could we not? The UN is about people and it’s 2030 Agenda pledges to leave no one behind. And that includes the 23 million people of Taiwan,” the Solomon Islands Ambassador to the UN, Robert Sisilo assured the President of Taiwan Dr Ing-wen Tsai and her ministers last week.
Mr Sisilo led a group of UN Ambassadors from Tuvalu, Palau, Paraguay and Saint Vincent and their spouses on a week-long visit to Taipei as guests of the government.
The group met the President briefly and had substantial discussions with her Vice-President, the President (Speaker) of the Legislative Yuan (Parliament), the Foreign Minister, and the Ministers of Health and Welfare, Mainland Affairs Council and Environmental Protection Administration on issues ranging from climate change and sea-level rise to international cooperation and development.
“They were all united in expressing their deep gratitude and appreciation to Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Palau, Paraguay and Saint Lucia for speaking up for Taiwan at the UN, the World Health Assembly and the International Civil Aviation Organisation at every opportunity,” Mr Sisilo said.
“The powerful statements of solidarity delivered by your leaders at the 72nd Session of the UN General Debate in September was of great encouragement to the government and people of Taiwan. It reflects the solid bonds that unite our two nations and peoples.” The Taiwan Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr David Ta-wei Lee told the five visiting UN Ambassadors and their spouses.
Taiwan was out of the UN in 1971 but still continues to meet commitments undertaken by UN member states on climate change, the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, civil aviation, health and the list goes on.
Last September, in accordance with the Agenda’s guidelines, Taiwan launched its Voluntary National Review Implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in New York. Many countries, including Solomon Islands, have yet to launch theirs.
