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Taipei takes new diplomatic tack

Taiwan will further broaden its space in the international community through channels by which other countries promote sustainable development and offer assistance to friendly countries to conquer difficulties caused by poverty, Yeh Jiunn-rong (葉俊榮), minister without portfolio, said yesterday in Johannesburg, where the plenary of the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) is being held.

After participating in the official opening of the WSSD yesterday, Yeh said at a press conference that Taiwan was linked to the international community, as evidenced by the country's participation at the summit.

In response to the message delivered by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the plenary that stressed the importance of responsibility to each other, the planet and the future, Yeh said Taiwan would no longer pursue sustainable development simply from the standpoint of environmental protection.

"We will further make ourselves connected with others in the international community who are also pursuing sustainable development," Yeh said. "In addition, we will sincerely offer practical assistance to help poor countries solve problems pertaining to poverty."

For example, Yeh stressed that Taiwan, a country with sound infrastructure, could do more to help southern countries that lack the ability to deal with natural disasters.

At the plenary, Annan said that pursuing a sustained future should be based on efforts made by governments, civil society and commercial enterprises.

Yeh said that Taiwan would also further pursue sustainable development in accordance with international trends.

"International standards imposed on responsible enterprises should not be neglected by export-oriented industries in Taiwan," said Yeh, stressing that corporate social responsibility needs to be promoted in Taiwan.

At the plenary, Annan's speech was followed by children who urged adults to save their future.

Yeh said he was especially moved by the message delivered by Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who stressed that the priority for developing countries was "capacity building."

A lot of people in the world have argued that the central concerns of environmental management -- to manage change, to resolve conflict, to manage institutional pluralism, to enhance coordination, to foster communication and to ensure that data and information are shared -- require a broad and holistic view of capacity development.

Meanwhile, Yeh said that Taiwan's participation at the world summit in Johannesburg had been successful in terms of gaining friends.

Yeh said during his short stay in Johannesburg that he had met influential political figures from Gambia, Nicaragua, Panama, South Africa, Canada and Indonesia when he was in the company of Environmental Protection Administration head Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) and high-ranking Taiwanese diplomatic officials.

According to Yeh, communication with high-ranking Indonesian officials was an extension of Vice President Annette Lu's (呂秀蓮) efforts to reach out to the Southeast Asian country last month.

In addition, Yeh said Nicaraguan vice president Jose Rizo will visit Taiwan in December to discuss dealing with natural disasters such as mudslides, landslides and hurricanes.

Hau said that Susan Waffa-Ogoo, Gambia's secretary for fisheries, natural resources and the environment, will visit Taiwan next month to not only attend the Oct. 10 National Day celebrations, but also learn of Taiwan's experience in waste management.

Hau said Taiwan has substantially assisted Gambia in the environmental sector due to the efforts Edgar Lin (林俊義), former head of the EPA and current ambassador to Gambia.

Prime minister of Tuvalu Saufatu Sopoanga expressed the country's appreciation to Taiwan for its donations and assistance.
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