Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Saturday announced his intention to strengthen collaboration with Taiwan's diplomatic allies in the South Pacific, as he prepared to embark on his first official overseas visit since taking office in May. The trip, themed "Prosperous Austronesia, Smart Sustainability," spans seven days from Saturday to December 6, with planned visits to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau.According to Focus Taiwan, President Lai articulated the importance of the strong bonds between Taiwan and its South Pacific allies during his remarks at Taoyuan International Airport. He highlighted the presence of Marshallese President Hilda Heine, Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo, and Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. at his inauguration on May 20 as a testament to the enduring support these nations provide to Taiwan.President Lai outlined "smart sustainability," "sustainable democracy," and "sustainable diplomatic ties" as the core objectives of his visit. He expressed a desire to explore n ew opportunities for cooperation through direct engagement and dialogue. Emphasizing the need for Taiwan to engage globally, Lai stressed the importance of addressing challenges like climate change and digital transformation by collaborating with allies to foster resilient mechanisms for sustainable development.The visit comes at significant anniversaries of Taiwan's diplomatic relations with the three nations-26 years with the Marshall Islands, 45 years with Tuvalu, and 25 years with Palau. President Lai expects that the strengthened collaboration resulting from the visit will further deepen Taiwan's bonds with these allies, who share democratic values and have consistently supported Taiwan's international participation.In addition to his visits to the South Pacific nations, President Lai's itinerary includes transit stops in the U.S. state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam. His first stop will be in Hawaii, where he will spend two nights before proceeding to the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. Upon concl uding his engagements there, Lai will transit through Guam for a one-day stopover before finishing his trip in Palau and returning to Taiwan.President Lai also expressed gratitude to the United States government for ensuring the trip adheres to principles of safety, dignity, comfort, and convenience. As Taiwan maintains formal diplomatic relations with 12 countries, including three in the South Pacific, this visit underscores the strategic importance of these alliances.