Palau Country Profile
【Country Name】The Republic of Palau (The Republic of Palau).
[Area] The land area is 459 square kilometers, and the marine exclusive economic zone covers an area of approximately 629,000 square kilometers. (The ocean area is equivalent to 3 Hunan Provinces, Hunan Province covers an area of 21,800 square kilometers)
[population] 21,800 (2018). Most of the Micronesian race. The official language is Palauan, general English. 73% of the country’s residents believe in Christianity, of which 41.6% believe in Roman Catholicism and 28.3% believe in Protestantism.
[Capital] Melekeok (Melekeok). Moved here from Koror on October 1, 2006.
[Head of State] Tommy E. Remengesau Jr., elected in November 2012, took office in January 2013, and was re-elected in November 2016.
【Important Holiday】 Independence Day: October 1. Constitution Day: July 9th.
Palau
[Introduction] Located in the Western Pacific, more than 700 miles south of Guam, it belongs to the Caroline Islands and is one of the gateways for the Pacific Ocean to enter Southeast Asia. The coastline is 1519 kilometers long. It is composed of more than 300 volcanic islands and coral islands, distributed on the 640 kilometers long sea surface from north to south. Only nine of them have permanent residents. The largest island is Babeldaob, with an area of 352 square kilometers, second only to Guam in this area. It has a tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 27°C. The rainy season is from May to November, and the dry season is from December to April of the following year. The average annual precipitation is more than 3000 mm.
was discovered by Spanish explorers in 1710. It was occupied by Spain in 1885. Sold to Germany by Spain in 1898. Occupied by Japan in World War I. It was captured by the United States during World War II. In 1947, the United Nations handed it over to the United States for trusteeship, and the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia constituted four political entities under the trusteeship of the Pacific Islands. In 1969, Palau began negotiations with the United States on its future political status. In August 1982, Pasadena and the United States signed the "Free Association Treaty", which was passed in a referendum held in November 1993. According to the treaty, Palau ended its trusteeship status on October 1, 1994 and became an independent sovereign state, but it still maintains a special relationship with the United States. In December of the same year, Palau joined the United Nations.
【Administrative divisions】The country is divided into 16 states.
[Economy] The economy has maintained growth in recent years. At present, Palau is one of the countries with a relatively high standard of living among the Pacific island countries. The economy depends on foreign aid. The tourism industry has developed rapidly. The contribution rate of the service industry to the gross domestic product (GDP) exceeds 80%. Employment in the service industry accounts for half of the total employment in the country. In 2010, the government revised the Foreign Investment Law and actively introduced foreign investment in the fields of energy, tourism and civil aviation, which injected vitality into economic development. The main economic data of
in 2018 are as follows:
GDP: 310 million US dollars.
National income per capita: US$16,910.
GDP growth rate: 1%.
Currency name: US dollar.
【Agriculture and fishery】 The main agricultural products are eggs, fruits, vegetables, pork, betel nuts, etc. Rich in tuna, the annual catch is 60,000 to 70,000 tons. Food cannot be self-sufficient.
[Tourism] is one of the pillar industries in Paro, accounting for about 50% of the total GDP. In 2018, there were more than 110,000 inbound tourists and more than 50,000 Chinese tourists. The Rock Islands have the best marine ecosystem in the Pacific.
【Transportation】There is no railway in the territory. There are airports, ports and satellite communication systems.
Highway: 61 kilometers in total length. No public transportation facilities.
Water transport: Koror is the main port.
Air transport: There are three airports. There are regular flights to and from the United States, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Guam, and Taiwan.
【Foreign Trade】Main imported machinery, Automobiles, fuel oil, industrial products, food, etc., export shellfish, tuna and copra.
【Foreign Aid】According to the Palme "Free Association Treaty", the United States provides a large amount of assistance to Palau. The United States provided more than US$800 million in aid in the form of rent in the first 15 years (1994-2009) when the treaty entered into force, of which US$70 million was deposited in the Pasadena Trust Fund. The fund has exceeded 144 million U.S. dollars and will be used to subsidize Pakistan's finances after the end of the Pamela Treaty. The U.S. will also provide $229 million in aid to Pakistan in 2010-2024. U.S. aid accounts for approximately 20% of Pakistan’s GDP. Japan is Palau's second largest aid country.
Palau
【People's Life】There are 1 hospital and 13 clinics. There are about 20 doctors. The average life expectancy of the population is about 70 years.
【Military Affairs】 According to the Palme "Free Association Treaty", the defense of Palau was under the responsibility of the United States from 1994 to 2044. The US Coast Guard is responsible for patrolling the Pa waters. Pa is a nuclear-free zone.
【Education】 There are 25 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 1 college, namely Palau Community College (Palau Community College). The illiteracy rate is 8%.
【Press and Publication】 The main newspapers are the weekly double-issue newspapers "Tia Belau" (Tia Belau) and "Island Times" (Island Times). There are two radio stations. There are satellite ground receiving stations and cable TV stations, which can receive programs such as CNN.
【Foreign Relations】 Palau is committed to developing friendly relations with other countries, attaching importance to strengthening cooperation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and actively participating in regional affairs. Member of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific Community, Inter-Parliamentary Union and World Health Organization. Established diplomatic relations with 60 countries. Send ambassador-level permanent representatives to the United Nations and honorary consuls to the Netherlands.
[Relationship with the United States] The Pamey "Free Association Treaty" entered into force on October 1, 1994, with a validity period of 50 years. According to the treaty, Palau has autonomy in internal affairs and diplomacy. The United States is responsible for its national defense and strategic security affairs, provides weather forecasts, medical treatment, and natural disaster relief, and has exclusive rights to use the Paseo Channel. Pamei set up embassies in each other. In 2010, the United States sent its first permanent ambassador to Pasadena (previously, it has been charge d'affaires). There is also a consulate in Guam, a consulate in Hawaii, and a consulate in Saipan. In May 2019, US President Trump met with Palau President Remen Gesau and leaders of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia at the White House.
[Relationship with Japan] Japan is Palau's second largest aid country and the main export market for tuna and mackerel. In 1999, Pari exchanged embassies. Pa has already sent an ambassador to Japan, and Japan sent a permanent ambassador to Pa in March 2010.
[Relationship with Australia] On October 1, 1994, Pasadena established diplomatic relations with Australia. Australian Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia and Ambassador to Pakistan. In June 2018, Australian Foreign Minister Bishop visited Pakistan.
