Taiwan and the United States on Tuesday jointly announced the launch of a new dialogue mechanism to achieve closer bilateral cooperation and to defend and promote shared values.

In order to prevent the invasion of African Swine Fever (ASF), the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan (BAPHIQ) and customs have been strengthening border inspection by conducting thorough inspections on carry-on baggage of all air passengers arriving from high risk regions such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau since January 16, 2019.

The Yushan Forum: Asian Dialogue for Innovation and Progress (ADIP) is a platform for Asian regional dialogue initiated by Taiwan.

At a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Premier Su Tseng-chang directed government agencies to make every effort to clear investment obstacles faced by overseas Taiwanese companies looking to return home. These companies will help transform and upgrade domestic industries while laying a strong foundation for Taiwan’s economic future. Companies that have remained in Taiwan deserve recognition and encouragement as well, he said.

Taiwan will contribute US$1 million over five years to the U.S. Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Fund, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs March 12.

Taiwan announced Tuesday that it will donate US$1 million to a U.S.-initiated fund to help persecuted religious minorities around the world.

Taiwan is “damn proud” of its recognition by the U.S. government as “a reliable partner, a democratic success story and a force for good in the world,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu said during an address at the World Affairs Council March 11 in Los Angeles.

Measures aimed at countering the “one country, two systems” formula for unifying Taiwan with China were unveiled March 11 by the National Security Council.

The US Department of State held the first Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in July 2018, launching the Potomac Plan of Action that called on participating states to create Ambassador at Large positions for religious freedom. The US Department of State also announced the establishment of the International Religious Freedom Fund (I-ReFF) that encourages countries to make donations and leverage related resources for the promotion of religious freedom around the world.

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback is visiting Taiwan March 10-13, reflecting the strong friendship between the like-minded partners, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.