(Central News Agency reporter Gu Yongshuang, Stockholm, 26th) The “Taiwan-Swedish Parliamentarians Association” held a seminar on Taiwan’s participation in the WHO on the 24th. Representative Gu Ruisheng in Sweden was invited to attend the speech, calling on all walks of life to support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) ).
The seminar was held at the Swedish Parliament on the 24th and was chaired by Boriana Åberg, Chairman of the Swedish-Taiwanese Parliamentary Association (STPA). Representative to Sweden Gu Ruisheng, Member of Parliament on the Swedish Foreign Affairs Council and Liberal Party spoke Joar Forssell, Birger Forsberg, health commissioner and public health professor of the Åland autonomous region in Finland, and Henrik Lars Barvå, political editor of the Swedish newspaper “NWT” ) was invited to be the keynote speaker.
The seminar attracted nearly 20 parliamentarians and parliamentary administrators from Sweden’s four major political parties. Speakers from various fields provided diverse interpretations. Members of Congress also expressed their dissatisfaction with Taiwan’s inability to join the World Health Organization due to China’s political interference for many years.
Participants also discussed issues such as Taiwan’s historical participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHA’s operating mechanism, and whether Taiwan’s membership case has been resolved, showing that Swedish parliamentarians pay close attention to and support Taiwan’s participation in the WHO.
Chairman O’Berry explained that the WHO needs Taiwan more than Taiwan needs the WHO, and vowed to support Taiwan’s participation in the WHO.
Gu Ruisheng, Representative to Sweden, gave a speech titled “Human health and well-being transcends politics”, pointing out that the WHO Charter clearly states that human beings’ enjoyment of health and well-being should not be affected by political, racial, religious and other factors. However, despite the experience of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the international community COVID-19) epidemic still excludes Taiwan from participating in the WHO for political reasons, making it impossible for Taiwan to provide virus surveillance information to other countries through the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS).
In addition, Taiwan cannot be included in the Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) and is therefore excluded from the WHO epidemic agreement negotiations.
Gu Ruisheng also cited Taiwan’s excellent performance in responding to the COVID-19 epidemic and health care as showing that Taiwan can provide substantial contributions to the international health system. Gu Ruisheng also thanked the EU and Swedish governments for their historical support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO case, and called for continued support this year. The case speaks out.
From a geopolitical perspective, Fother explained that authoritarian countries such as Russia and China are increasingly threatening the democratic camp. Sweden and other EU countries should clearly express their support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the WHO to demonstrate their emphasis on human rights and support for countries with similar ideals.
Forsberg looked at Taiwan’s well-established health care and public health systems and believed that Taiwan’s participation in the WHO would allow the world to learn from Taiwan’s experience and improve the global public health environment.
Barr clearly pointed out that Taiwan’s inability to join the WHO for many years was due to Chinese factors. Now at the time of the Russia-Ukraine war, democratic countries should support Taiwan more strongly and show the free world’s firm support for democratic countries.
The “Taiwan-Swedish Parliamentarians Association” is a Taiwan-friendly friendship group formally established by the Swedish Parliament. It is also one of the most active friendship groups in the Swedish Parliament.
Sweden’s Taiwan-friendly members of parliament raised 22 Taiwan-friendly questions and 12 Taiwan-friendly motions in 2023 on strengthening bilateral relations between Taiwan and Sweden and Taiwan’s participation in various international organizations. In the past, 17 members of Congress visited Taiwan at their own expense, and will soon organize a delegation to Taiwan to attend the inauguration ceremony of the 16th President and Vice President of the Republic of China, demonstrating the firm and friendly relations between Taiwan and Sweden. (Editor: Gao Zhaofen) 1130426
