OT-2017
May 15, 2020
Remarks by AIT Director W. Brent Christensen
at the Taiwan-U.S. COVID-19 Prevention Cooperation Press Conference
on the Modular Hospital Ward Design Project
May 15, 2020
(as prepared for delivery)
Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, Director General of Industrial Development Bureau Leu Jang-hwa, Fu Jen Catholic University President Vincent Chiang, Temple University Representative Professor Charles Chen, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon!
I often describe the U.S.-Taiwan relationship with the phrase “Real Friends, Real Progress,” and I am honored to be here today to celebrate another milestone in U.S.-Taiwan cooperation, a new partnership between Temple University and Fu Jen Catholic University to build Modular, Adaptable, Convertible (“MAC”) hospital wards to help serve COVID-19 patients in the United States.
As Secretary Pompeo said, “during tough times, real friends stick together,” and today’s announcement demonstrates again that Taiwan is a reliable partner and a force for good, sharing both its expertise and its resources with governments, universities, and public health institutions in the United States and all around the world.
Taiwan is an international leader in public health, and the “Taiwan Model” for managing the spread of COVID-19 has been recognized around the world.
Many of Taiwan’s top public health researchers have trained and studied in the United States, and our universities and experts have enjoyed decades of close collaboration. Today’s event is another example that cooperation between the United States and Taiwan is robust, long-standing, and beneficial to the global community.
I will close by saying that the United States has always believed that the most innovative solutions to the most complex problems often do not come from government; they come from creative, dedicated people like you. Thank you for your work and please know that the United States will continue to advocate for Taiwan’s greater international participation, so that Taiwan can continue to share its impressive global health expertise with the world. Thank you.
