Taiwan would like to assist South Sudan in building its capability for economic development and provide humanitarian medical aid to the new country, Samuel Chen (陳士良), head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of African Affairs, said yesterday.
“As an undeveloped country that has gained independence after decades of internal fighting, South Sudan is in need of international assistance. We would like to develop economic ties with it and deliver medical and humanitarian aid to help it,” Chen said.
The ministry issued a statement on Saturday immediately after South Sudan declared independence, praising it for respecting the pursuit of independence and self-determination by its people and calling its peaceful realization of independence via referendum “a remarkable feat.”
Africa’s 54th state is expected to be admitted as the 193rd member of the UN when the UN General Assembly meets tomorrow.
Taiwan wishes to build up substantial relations with South Sudan and will encourage economic groups to develop business in a country in which only a handful of Taiwanese businesspeople are currently based, Chen said.
However, the government had no plans yet to develop diplomatic relations, he said.