The Health Ministry has welcomed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the G7 nations backing Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) and World Health Organization (WHO). The ministry’s response comes a day after Tuesday’s communiqué, marking the end of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan.
Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) says he is glad the G7 countries are recognizing the accomplishments Taiwan has made in public health. He has also thanked the ministers for restating the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Hsueh adds he will lead a delegation to the World Health Assembly this year. The annual assembly will take place on May 21 in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHA is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization.
Hsueh says that in the past Taiwan has focused on working with countries that share similar values. However, this time he is encouraging nongovernmental organizations to expand their networks and work with countries that do not share similar values.
When asked by an opposition party legislator about whether the United States would support Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA, Hsueh says the U.S. is definitely considering it. Last year, 13 countries proposed a motion to put Taiwan’s inclusion on the WHA meeting agenda. But the proposal was rejected, resulting in Taiwan’s exclusion from the conference for the sixth straight year.