By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Marshall Islands and Taiwan are slated to sign new bilateral agreements this week as they vow to strengthen their diplomatic relations amid increasing pressure from Beijing.
Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Kitlang Kabua is currently visiting Taiwan for a week-long trip.
"Minister Kabua will lead a delegation including Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Anjanette Kattil to Taiwan from April 12 to 18," according to a press release from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Kabua will meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu to sign a cooperative agreement on the training of diplomatic personnel and a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a fund to tackle climate change.
"The Marshall Islands delegation will also be treated to a meal by MOFA Minister Joseph Wu and Deputy Minister Tien Chung-kwang and meet with representatives from government agencies and civil society," MOFA said.
"They’ll also squeeze in a visit to the National Palace Museum, the Huashan Cultural and Creative Park, Taipei 101 and the Sapulju indigenous community in Taitung," the agency added.
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The Marshall Islands is one of only 14 countries that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan.
The Marshall Islands and Taiwan established diplomatic relations in 1998.
During his visit to Taipei last month, Marshall Islands President David Kabua pledged his country's commitment to its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
The Marshall Islands has supported Taiwan's participation in international organizations such as the UN, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
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