Vice President Lai Ching-te to visit Palau to discuss boosting tourism, economy

Vice President Lai Ching-te is gearing up for his third foreign state visit as VP. This time, his delegation will include tourism officials and members of the press. The Presidential Office says the state visit will help it strengthen ties with the ally country, and help it launch an increase in bilateral tourism and other exchanges. Lai will also attend events marking cooperation between the two countries in medicine, infrastructure and sports.

President Tsai Ing-wen last visited ally nation Palau in March 2019. Now it’s Vice President Lai Ching-te’s turn to make the trip.

Xavier Chang
Presidential Office spokesperson
The political and economic climate is changing rapidly, both at home and abroad. The president must remain in the country to ensure the smooth operation of state affairs. Therefore, the president has assigned Vice President Lai Ching-te the task of going on a three-day, two-night state visit.

Tsai is sending Lai on a state visit to Palau, where he will be tasked with promoting tourism between the two countries and strengthening bilateral ties. Lai’s delegation is scheduled to depart on Nov. 1, and arrive in Palau at 1 p.m. local time. During the trip, he will meet with Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr., and visit the Palau National Congress, as well as attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new road in the country. Lai is also expected to meet with skilled Taiwanese in Palau to help locals with various projects, and to attend a state banquet.

On Day 2 of his visit, Lai will visit the Rock Islands with Whipps, and on Day 3, he will attend ceremonies for two cooperative projects. Those projects are a remote-medicine clinic being established in conjunction with Taiwan’s Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, and an equipment donation to the Palau Major League. This will be followed by a luncheon with the media, after which Lai’s delegation will return to Taiwan.

Xavier Chang
Presidential Office spokesperson
Taiwan is willing to work with Palau, to boost tourism and the economy. From Nov. 16, Taiwan will reinstate regular direct flights to Palau, and revive exchanges between the two countries.

This will be Lai’s third foreign state visit as VP. Now that the pandemic is winding down, his delegation this time will include government officials from the Tourism Bureau, as well as members of the press. The roughly 100-person delegation will be Lai’s largest to date.