Address to World Summit 2020, Seoul, Korea, February 3-8, 2020
Excellencies, distinguished guests, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Dr. Thomas Walsh, ladies and gentlemen, Alii, yeoboseyo and good afternoon.
On behalf of President Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., it is my honor and pleasure to join our First Lady Debbie Remengesau and our delegation from the Republic of Palau in extending our warm island greetings to all distinguished guests and members of the Universal Peace Federation on this occasion of the World Summit.
A little over a month ago, the Republic of Palau, through First Lady Remengesau, co-hosted the successful inaugural Asia Pacific First Ladies Summit with UPF, Women’s Federation for World Peace and civil society organizations. Prominent women and guests from over fifty nations, different backgrounds, cultures and challenges gathered together in our island nation. This critical event provided us with an opportunity to come together, combine our efforts and visions for a peaceful world – a common goal we all mutually share – a world that is full of freedom with love for people and our planet.
It was an event focused on the power and strength of women and how we can work together to effect change. Asia Pacific women and women around the world, as I shared at the First Ladies Summit, traditionally held and continue to hold important positions. Women play vital roles in all aspect of our societies, from nurturing our children to taking care of our elderly parents, and as champions of many important global causes in the areas of gender equality, health and education, and many others. Every single day, women play essential roles to protect, promote and support the rights and needs of women, children, and the elderly – the most vulnerable members of our societies.
Here we are gathered again today under the theme of “Realizing World Peace and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula through Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values.”
As global citizens it is our responsibility to unite our efforts to secure peace and mutual prosperity in our respective regions to promote human development and growth in all aspects of life. We must collaborate, extend cooperation and work in harmony in order to achieve our common goals.
In the Republic of Palau, we enjoy peace and stability living in nature, as nature provides us sustenance and most importantly, our cultural identity. Thus, environmental protection and sustainability are among our nation’s top priorities.
As the world continues to evolve, we are faced with new challenges brought on by climate change, conflicts of war, and other global issues that threaten our way of life. As a nation, Palau is working to address these challenges as well as working with governments and partners from organizations, including the UPF, to address them at both regional and international levels.
Many in this room may have never heard of Palau or have had the pleasure of visiting our beautiful nation. We are certainly geographically far from many countries represented here and smaller in terms of population, however, we all share the same desires to live in a peaceful, stable world – a world where all citizens have access to a safe environment to live and succeed.
Let us use this opportunity and this occasion to network, build strong partnerships and solidarity, as we continue to champion good causes in our respective regions for the good of our world.
Ko meral mesulang. Kamsahamnida. Thank you.
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