Top US Health Official Meets Taiwan's Deputy Minister In Geneva

A top US health official on Wednesday met with Taiwan's deputy minister of health on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva.

The US Mission to the UN in Geneva said that Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs Loyce Pace and her accompanying delegation had a bilateral meeting with a delegation from Taiwan led by Li-Feng Lee, deputy minister of health.

"Both delegations acknowledged the longstanding health collaborations under auspices of American Institute in Taiwan and Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, including the recent 3rd U.S.-Taiwan Health Working Group meeting," the statement said.

The US delegation reiterated its support for Taiwan's participation as an observer at the World Health Assembly and meaningful participation in the World Health Organization's technical meetings.

The US delegation also praised Taiwan's continued support in the fight against COVID-19.

Earlier, to a question during a press conference, Pace said: "We value the contributions of Taiwan…and know that they have a lot to offer the world and to this assembly.

"And, so we continue to make that recommendation, and we're hopeful that they will be invited back so that we all benefit from what they provide," she added.

She said the US and Taiwan remain committed to working together under the Memorandum of Understanding between the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office on Health Cooperation.

The WHA, the WHO's main decision-making body, had adopted a resolution Monday as its first item not to include Taiwan as an observer in the assembly after China made a spirited objection in the opening exchanges, describing the move as "political manipulation." -