22/05/2025
Tuvalu Ambassador Pays Courtesy Visit to TaiwanICDF Secretary General to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation
Taipei, Taiwan – May 21, 2025 – Her Excellency Mrs. Lily Tangisia Faavae, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu to the Republic of China (Taiwan), paid a courtesy visit on Wednesday, 21st May, 2025 - to Dr. Yu-Lin Huang, Secretary General of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), reaffirming the strong and growing partnership between Tuvalu and Taiwan.
During the high-level meeting, Ambassador Faavae and Secretary General Huang engaged in constructive discussions surrounding ongoing and future bilateral and potentially multilateral initiatives. These include technical cooperation, humanitarian assistance, and capacity-building programs in education and training—core areas in which TaiwanICDF has continued to provide vital support to Tuvalu.
Ambassador Faavae expressed the Tuvalu government’s deep appreciation for the TaiwanICDF’s ongoing support, particularly highlighting the success of its work through its Technical Program and the three demonstration farms established across Tuvalu. “The nutritional value these farms bring has had a significant impact on the health and well-being of our communities,” she noted, citing their integration into Tuvalu’s national health programs that promote healthy living.
Dr. Huang welcomed the positive feedback and shared plans to further enhance agricultural support in Tuvalu. He revealed that future phases of the demonstration farms will incorporate cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to increase productivity and sustainability. “Our goal is to ensure that these advancements directly benefit the people of Tuvalu,” he noted.
In an encouraging development, Dr. Huang also announced plans to expand the demonstration farms to additional islands within Tuvalu, aiming to broaden the reach and impact of Taiwan’s agricultural assistance.
Both parties recognized the importance of exploring more short-term training opportunities for Tuvaluan citizens, with a dedicated focus on integrating digital tools, technology, and AI into ICDF’s training curriculum.
Importantly, Secretary General Huang reaffirmed that the TaiwanICDF remains open to new initiatives proposed by the Tuvalu Embassy—not only in vocational training and education, but also in other sectors of national interest. He assured Ambassador Faavae of the ICDF’s full support in working closely with Tuvalu to develop and implement such programs, underscoring the organization’s commitment to responsive and tailored development cooperation.
The meeting took place at the ICDF headquarters located in the Diplomatic Quarter in Taipei. Dr. Huang was accompanied by senior officials from each of the ICDF’s departments, reflecting the importance of the bilateral dialogue. Ambassador Faavae was joined by the First Secretary Silafaga Lalua O’Brien of the Tuvalu Embassy and the Private Secretary Ellen Cheng.
This meeting marks another important step in the enduring friendship and cooperation between Tuvalu and Taiwan, reaffirming a shared commitment to sustainable development, innovation, and people-centred progress.
