Taipei: Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung visited Palau National Hospital on Thursday as he began a week-long stay in the Pacific ally to attend events related to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting. In a Facebook post Friday, Lin thanked Palau's Minister of State Gustav Aitaro and the country's newly appointed Ambassador to Taiwan Gaafar J. Uherbelau for welcoming his delegation a day earlier.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lin was accompanied by Palauan Vice President and Health and Human Services Minister Raynold Oilouch during his visit to Palau National Hospital. The purpose of the visit was to explore the ongoing bilateral healthcare project and engage with a medical team from Taiwan's Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital. Lin noted that Palau is in the process of planning a new national hospital, and Taiwan aims to share its expertise in smart healthcare, hospital information systems (HIS), and medical personnel training to support Palau's developmental aspirations.
Lin expressed that the collaboration between Taiwan and Palau could be significantly enhanced in various areas, including hospital infrastructure, medical services, digital technology, and personnel training. This cooperation positions Taiwan as a key partner in promoting the health of the Palauan populace.
On Thursday evening, Lin attended a dinner hosted by Palauan President Surangel S. Whipps Jr., where he met with Palauan government officials and representatives of Taiwanese businesses accompanying him. The discussions centered around future collaboration, with Lin encouraging the business representatives to gain firsthand insights into Palau's development needs and potential investment opportunities. The goal is to align Taiwan's industrial capabilities with Palau's requirements.
Lin highlighted the strengthening ties between Taiwan and Palau, spanning healthcare, industry, government, and the private sector. He expressed commitment to continuing efforts to foster this relationship.