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DOH delegation leaves for WHA

Taiwan is to re-emerge on the world stage nearly four decades after quitting the UN by sending a delegation to the World Health Assembly (WHA).

Although the Taiwanese delegation is to attend the assembly in Geneva under the name “Chinese, Taipei,” President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration still considers its presence at the assembly a breakthrough. The Republic of China gave up its UN membership in 1971.

Department of Health (DOH) Minister Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川) last night led a 15-member delegation to the WHA, which opens on Monday and runs through Friday.

At a press conference at the Government Information Office yesterday, he said Taiwan plans to donate US$5 million to the WHO to show Taiwan’s support for the UN agency’s work.

Yeh said the offer was based on the principle of “give-and-take” as the government hoped the WHO could help Taiwan prevent the spread of the A(H1N1) strain of influenza, recognize the Centers for Disease Control’s laboratory and assist Taiwan as it elevates its vaccine and medicine production standards to meet WHO criteria.

Yeh said he would address the 193-member assembly on Taiwan’s work in fighting epidemics and express Taipei’s wish to contribute to global efforts to fight diseases and epidemics.

“We will hold talks with the health ministers from the United States and the European Union and do not rule out discussion with China’s health minister on issues of mutual concern,” he said.

Yeh said that he would give a three-minute speech at the luncheon of the World Medical Association, an international organization of physicians, and a five-minute address at the plenary session of the WHA on Wednesday.

Yeh said he would have bilateral talks with representatives from the country’s allies and the US and Canada, while bilateral talks with representatives from Japan and Europe were being arranged.

Taiwan received a faxed letter from WHO Director-General Margaret Chan (陳馮富珍) late last month inviting it to attend as an observer at the WHA’s annual meeting. The letter, addressed to Yeh, extended the invitation to “the Department of Health, Chinese Taipei.”

Yeh said yesterday he had received the official letter from Chan via mail.

Yeh’s office said the letter from the WHO addressed Yeh as “Dr. Ching-chuan Yeh” and was sent to the DOH’s address in “Taipei City, Taiwan.”
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