The Taiwan Representative Office in the Republic of Somaliland (Chinese: 臺灣駐索馬利蘭共和國代表處; pinyin: Táiwān zhù Suǒmǎlìlán Gònghéguó Dàibiǎochù) is the representative office of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the Republic of Somaliland, which functions as a substantial embassy.[1]
臺灣駐索馬利蘭共和國代表處 Táiwān zhù Suǒmǎlìlán Gònghéguó Dàibiǎochù | |
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Agency overview | |
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Formed | August 17, 2020 |
Jurisdiction | Somaliland |
Headquarters | Hargeisa, Somaliland |
Agency executive |
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Website | www |
Footnotes | |
Taiwan Representative Office in Somaliland on Facebook |
Introduction
editOn August 17, 2020, the inauguration ceremony of the representative office was held outside the representative office in the capital of Somaliland, Hargeisa. The inauguration ceremony was co-hosted by Allen Chenhwa Luo, the representative of the country in Somaliland, and the foreign minister of Somaliland, Yasin Haji Mohamoud.[citation needed] The national flags of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Somaliland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan) took the video link to give speeches, and signed a bilateral technical cooperation agreement with Yasin Haji Mohamoud simultaneously. The unveiling ceremony first played the President Tsai Ing-wen pre-recorded congratulatory video, and then Joseph Wu, the foreign minister of Taiwan, gave a speech through a video connection.[citation needed] Important guests attending the ceremony included the heads of Somaliland's Ministry of Finance and Development, the Ministry of Planning and Development, the Department of Immigration, and the president of the Central Bank. A total of about 50 dignitaries and parliamentarians attended the ceremony, as well as personnel from diplomatic missions in Somaliland Attend the ceremony.[citation needed]
Wu said in a speech that since 2009, Taiwan and Somaliland have cooperated in the fields of medical and health, education and maritime security. After the official operation of the representative office, the cooperation between the two countries will continue to expand and deepen. US Department of Health Chief Azar praised during his recent visit to Taiwan, "Taiwan is indeed an important friend of the United States at this difficult time." Taiwan will also adhere to this belief to communicate with Somaliland, and continue to cooperate with partners with similar ideas to jointly promote regional stability and prosperity. In his speech, Mu Yassin thanked the Taiwanese government and people for their contributions and efforts to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. He pointed out that with the increasing international importance of the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden region, now is the best time for Taiwan to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations on the basis of mutual benefit.[2]
Minister Wu and Foreign Minister Mohamoud signed the "Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of the Republic of Somaliland" by video on behalf of the governments of the two countries after the unveiling ceremony. The consortium International Cooperation and Development Foundation will set up the "Taiwan Technical Mission in Somaliland" in Somaliland to continue to deepen the Taiwan-Somaliland partnership of mutual benefit and common prosperity.[3]