Tuvalu parliament speaker visits Taiwan for Asian lawmakers meeting

Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) Tuvalu's parliament speaker, Iakoba Italeli, arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday for a nine-day visit to attend a regional lawmakers assembly in Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said.

Italeli arrived Wednesday morning at Taoyuan International Airport with a six-member delegation that included his wife and Tuvalu lawmaker Seve Paeniu. They were welcomed by Vice Foreign Minister Ger Baushuan (葛葆萱), the ministry said.

During their stay until Sept. 4, the delegation will meet President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), and attend a reception hosted by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), the ministry said.

Italeli is making his second visit to Taiwan since becoming speaker in February 2024, the ministry said. The delegation is in Taiwan mainly to attend the 53rd General Assembly of the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians' Union (APPU), a group that promotes peace and democracy in the region.

The APPU was founded in 1965 as the Asian Parliamentarians' Union by lawmakers from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand, with the aim of promoting freedom and democracy to help secure peace and prosperity in Asia, according to its website.