Taiwan has pledged US$3 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), a regional climate and disaster fund, despite not being invited to last week's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting, a diplomat said today.
Michael Lin (林昭宏), head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said that Tuvalu announced the donation on Taiwan's behalf during the meeting from Monday to Friday last week in the Solomon Islands.
Photo: Huang Ching-hsuan, Taipei Times
The contribution, to be paid over three years, demonstrates Taiwan's determination to cooperate with the PIF and like-minded countries in the region to promote prosperity and sustainable development, Lin said.
The PRF, launched at the 54th PIF meeting in Honiara, aims to help Pacific communities overcome barriers to global financing.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister and PIF chair Jeremiah Manele hailed it as a game-changer and emphasized the importance of Pacific-led solutions.
The facility seeks to raise US$500 million in initial capital, with a long-term goal of US$1.5 billion.
Other pledges include US$64 million from Australia, US$25 million from the US and US$3 million from Japan, Lin said.
Taiwan has been a PIF partner country since 1993 and has contributed to the bloc in the past.
However, this year's forum was restricted to the forum's 18 member states, after the Solomon Islands barred partner countries, including Taiwan, the US and China, from attending.
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