The prime minister of Tuvalu says his country will “stand firm” to remain a “lasting and loyal ally” to Taiwan. Kausea Natano was speaking at a state banquet put on at Taiwan’s Presidential Office in honor of his visit.
Tuvalu is one of Taiwan’s 14 official diplomatic allies.
The leader of the Pacific island nation also says Tuvalu will keep speaking up on Taiwan’s behalf.
At a state reception ceremony held on Monday morning in his honor, Natano met with President Tsai Ing-wen.
Tsai welcomed Natano and his wife to Taiwan, and thanked Tuvalu for its continued support for Taiwan at international organizations.
President Tsai says she visited Tuvalu in 2017 where she learned about projects the two countries were working together on. She said that the success of collaboration between Tuvalu and Taiwan left a deep impression on her.
During Monday’s state banquet, Tsai added that Taiwan and Tuvalu are island nations that feel direct impacts from climate change. She says she hopes the two countries can keep working together to address those shared challenges.
Prime Minister Natano is scheduled to leave the country on Friday.