Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin (second left) and NDC Minister Chen Mei-ling (third left) attend the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting Nov. 9 in Danang, Vietnam. (CNA)

Taiwan is committed to participating in regional economic integration through pursuing bilateral agreements and joining multilateral frameworks including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, according to Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin Nov. 9.
 
Trade discussions among Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies must not exclude any parties so as to ensure regional prosperity, Shen said. Taiwan is an indispensable part of Asia-Pacific supply chains, and is dedicated to working with fellow APEC members in shaping a new regional economic model aimed at strengthening employment, equitable distribution and innovation, he added.
 
Shen made the comments while attending the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting along with National Development Council Minister Chen Mei-ling in Danang, Vietnam. The event was held on the eve of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting Nov. 10-11 in the Vietnamese city.
 
During the NDC minister’s remarks at the annual gathering, she highlighted the government’s efforts in promoting food security, inclusive and innovative growth, sustainable agriculture and other priority areas relating to the theme of this year’s APEC summit—Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future.
 
According to Chen, the country’s commitment to cultivating human resources development across the region was highlighted with the 2016 launch of an APEC vocational training center in central Taiwan’s Taichung City. Set up under the organization’s Skills Development Capacity Building Alliance initiative proposed by Taiwan earlier the same year, the facility has to date helped bolster the employment skills of individuals from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, she said.
 
The minister also voiced the country’s support for the APEC Gender Inclusive Guidelines, stating that these principles are in line with Taiwan’s long-term efforts to advance gender equality across the region. Taiwan-initiated APEC projects in this regard include the ongoing Gendered Innovation for Technology and Science initiative, which aims to boost female participation in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
 
Another example is the APEC women and economy subfund, Chen said. Jointly established by Taiwan, Australia and the U.S., the initiative advances women’s economic empowerment by promoting the key pillars outlined in the APEC Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy. These include facilitating capital and market access, skills and capacity building, women’s leadership and agency, and innovation and technology. (SFC-E)