This July, Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen transited through New York, an icon of diversity and freedom and home to the United Nations, as a prelude to her state visit to Taiwan's diplomatic allies in the Caribbean. While meeting with the Permanent Representatives to the U.N. of Taiwan's allies, Tsai reiterated that Taiwan's 23 million people have the right to participate in the U.N. system. She also emphasized that Taiwan is committed to joining hands with global partners to help achieve the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals to forge the world we want, and the future we need.
The SDGs form a blueprint for a better and more sustainable future, aiming to guide the world down a sustainable and resilient path with "no one left behind." In the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development this July, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed again the pressing need to accelerate relevant actions. Likewise, he called on nations to advance the "Inclusion Imperative" because "development is not sustainable if it is not fair and inclusive."
The principles of inclusiveness and leaving no one behind are key to realizing the SDGs. Taiwan, a full-fledged democracy, has made considerable progress in fulfilling the SDGs and has provided assistance to countries in need. Nevertheless, it continues to be barred from participating in related meetings, mechanisms and activities due to political interference. This has seriously undermined the principle of partnership — the foundation of the SDGs — which requires the participation of all countries, stakeholders and peoples. Taiwan is willing and ready to share its success story and contribute further to the collective effort to achieve the SDGs.