Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and friends in Europe voiced support for the nation’s bid to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium said on Wednesday.
The office and Taiwanese living in Belgium held a gathering at the palace next to the European Council on Wednesday to voice support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA, which is to take place from Monday to Saturday next week in Geneva, Switzerland, the office said.
Ambassadors to the EU from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, Belgian members of parliament, the medical community, citizen groups and overseas Taiwanese showed their support at the gathering, it said.
Photo: CNA
Eswatini Ambassador to Belgium and the EU Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu congratulated Taiwan for the successful presidential inauguration on Monday.
As the highest-level meeting for setting global health policies, the WHA should include Taiwan, he said, adding that Taiwan should not only be an observer in the WHO, but also a formal member.
Eswatini has had a friendly relationship with Taiwan for nearly 60 years and would continue to support the nation in making valuable contributions to global health, he added.
Haitian Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the EU Jesse Jean praised Taiwan’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The challenges facing the world, including pandemics, climate change and economic crises, require all stakeholders to work together to provide sustainable and effective solutions, which Taiwan can contribute toward, he said.
He called on the international society to support Taiwan’s participation in the WHA and other international organizations to create a more resilient, inclusive and prosperous world.
Belizean Ambassador to the EU Gianni Avila said that this year’s WHA is themed “All for Health, Health for All,” and the “all” should include Taiwan.
Belgian lawmaker Georges Dallemagne, copresident of the Belgium-Taiwan Friendship Group, said that it is shameful that China still blocks Taiwan from participating in WHO discussions on global pandemics given the nation’s considerable contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic.
No country can face a pandemic alone, Standing Committee of European Doctors secretary-general Sarada Das said, adding that cooperation is crucial for the development of health and medicine, which should not be politicized.
Representative to the EU and Belgium Roy Lee (李淳) thanked the Taiwanese community in Belgium for supporting the government’s bid to join the WHA.
The exclusion of Taiwan from the WHO creates a gap in international public health governance, he said, adding that as Taiwan has not yet been invited to participate in the WHA, global health coverage is far from universal and is not conducive to jointly preventing the next global pandemic.
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