The first-ever Taiwan-Africa Summit 2007 opened yesterday at the Grand Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, with the Vice President Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy denouncing Taiwan’s continued isolation as the "greatest injustice" to the 23 million people of the Asian-pacific island nation.

The summit, which preceded the Taiwan-Africa Partnership Forum, saw the African leaders making renewed commitment to stand by Taiwan in its cause to secure UN membership and participate in other international agencies and organisations.

"The denial of the 23 million people is a suppression of the views of millions of people who yearn to enjoy the benefits of international partnership and cooperation in a free and fair international environment," the Vice President stressed, in a statement delivered on behalf of President Yahya Jammeh, who could not attend the summit due to pressing state matters.

Madam Njie-Saidy urged other Africans and delegates to the summit not to waver until Taiwan is given the recognition it deserves under international law. She then reminded the summit to note that the continued marginalisation of Taiwan in international political affairs is a denial to the rest of the world to learn from "Taiwan’s vast experience".

The theme

On "Africa of IT and Growth" as the theme of the summit, the Vice President acknowledged Taiwan’s position as the 13th leading nation in the world in its Networked Readiness Index by the World Economic Forum. To this effect, the Vice President said Taiwan would be able to provide the much needed technological support and assistance to its African allies in creating the digital opportunities, which can help to bridge the digital divide. "For so long, countries in Africa continue to be strongly challenged to bridge the technology divide, develop infrastructure, and address the needs of human capital, including, critical, expertise in ICT," she said.

She then propounded that the inter-cooperation among allied states and with Taiwan should be directed at exploring solutions to tackling this and other capacity gaps crucial to growth and aspirations. "In this way, Taiwan would help us become independent producers of ICT knowledge ourselves," she stated.

Switching to other sub-themes, including health and sustainable peace in Africa, she informed the summit that Africa is the world’s icon of development, noting that "anything that undermines its development should be a concern to sustainable global progress anywhere". She maintained that "without peace and development in Africa, there will be no global peace and development. African countries have taken great strides towards keeping peace and security in the region. Let us join hands therefore to ensure that nothing wrecks our countries and puts peace to question".

She then reiterated that the summit offers an opportunity to explore ways to consolidate peace, and cooperation with Taiwan in medical, public health, agriculture, education, among others.

"Health is not everything, but without health, everything else is nothing. The same principle is true of agriculture and education," she declared at the summit.

In conclusion, the Vice President thanked the people and the government of Taiwan for their enormous support and assistance.

For his part, the chief host of the summit, President Chen Shui-bian, rolled out the red carpet for the leaders and their delegates. Chen expressed his profound gratitude to the leaders and their delegates for attending the summit.

President Chen asserted that the summit offers an opportunity for new directions and exchanges so as to meet the various needs of each ally. "Through collective effort, we can help our friends create digital, healthy, progressive, sustainable and peaceful nations," he said.

He then assured the delegates of his government’s commitment to its cooperation with the African countries and wished the guests great success in the deliberations.

King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland, President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi, President Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso, and President Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes of Sao Tome and Precipe, also delivered at least  five-minute long speeches during the official opening ceremony.

Outcome

After a short break, the African leaders, delegates and their Taiwanese counterparts proceeded to a close-door session, where matters pertaining to the theme of the summit, as well as Taiwan’s strained relation with China, and its quest to join the UN, were thoroughly discussed.

At the close of the proceedings, the leaders will sign a joint agreement called the Taipei Declaration, supporting Taiwan’s bid at the UN. The declaration will also capture new directions in the context cooperation between Taiwan and its allies, as well as an action plan.