Today (April 14), the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Marshall Islands, Hon. Kitlang Kabua, and her delegation visited the Council of Indigenous Peoples to highlight the deep connection between the indigenous peoples of Taiwan and the Marshall Islands. The Council of Indigenous Peoples welcomed the delegation with traditional Amis music and dance, and congratulated Minister Kabua on her appointment as the youngest female politician to hold a ministerial position in the Marshall Islands, setting a good example for female leaders in the Austronesian region.

The Council of Indigenous Peoples stated that under the framework of the six-year plan for Austronesian indigenous peoples, Taiwan and the Marshall Islands have initiated various international cooperation and exchange programs for indigenous peoples. Last year, the Council of Indigenous Peoples received a delegation from the Marshall Islands to participate in the National Bunun Malahodaigian Festival and Traditional Skills Competition. In late April this year, the Council of Indigenous Peoples led a delegation of Bunun people to the Marshall Islands to participate in traditional athletic exchanges and Constitution Day commemorative activities. In August, the Council is planning to hold the Executive Council Meeting of the Austronesian Forum in the Marshall Islands. These are the two main focuses of the working plan for the forum in 2023.

To welcome the visitors, the Council of Indigenous Peoples specially prepared a traditional Paiwan beaded necklace for the Minister made using traditional techniques, symbolizing the important position of the Minister in her country and the hope that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands will continue to work together to preserve indigenous culture in the Austronesian region and maintain a long-lasting friendship between the two countries.