Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-08-01

President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday addressed the first Austronesian Forum in 10 years. She was joined by the visiting president of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, in welcoming guests from the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, the Philippines, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Guam and Hawaii.

The International Austronesian Conference was set up in 2003 as a platform for exchanges between Austronesian peoples of the Pacific, which also includes Taiwan’s indigenous people groups. But the resulting Austronesian Forum was last held in 2008.

Tsai said Taiwan’s indigenous peoples share much in common with the peoples of Pacific island nations, including language, cultural and historical links. She said she hopes the revived forum can be a platform for Austronesian peoples to share their experiences of confronting historical issues, as well as joining knowledge and resources in pursuit of sustainable development.    [SOURCE]