Minister Tsung-hsien Lin of the Council of Agriculture (COA) led a delegation to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from February 28 through March 3, to attend the 19th General Session of the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) Conference, where he discussed AARDO’s work plan and budget for the next three years with attending ministers from other member countries.
President Tsai Ing-wen attended the 2018 spring banquet held by Ministry of Foreign Affairs for foreign ambassadors and representatives stationed in Taiwan at the Grand Hotel in Taipei on the evening of February 27. In remarks, the president expressed Taiwan's gratitude for assistance and condolences from around the world following the recent earthquake in Hualien. She also reiterated that the government will continue to enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation with the United States, Japan,
New Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu hosted the 2018 Spring Banquet for foreign ambassadors and representatives Feb. 27 in Taipei City, expressing gratitude for their efforts in strengthening bilateral relations and pledging to deepen Taiwan’s exchanges with diplomatic allies and like-minded nations
Taiwan’s new ministers of foreign affairs, labor, mainland affairs, national defense and veteran affairs took office Feb. 26 in Taipei City following a partial Cabinet reshuffle.
Taiwan welcomes the release of the final text of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and is committed to joining the multilateral pact at the earliest possible date, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs Feb. 21.
Taiwan was ranked 29th least corrupt out of 180 countries and territories in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index released Feb. 21 by Berlin-based Transparency International.
The Legislative Yuan passed the Amendment to Pharmaceutical Affairs Act on Dec 29th, 2017 in Taiwan, to establish patent linkage system and give data exclusivity for new indication. After President announcement on Jan 31th, the data exclusivity for new indication is effective immediately and the enforcement date of patent linkage system will be set by the Executive Yuan.
All new appointments will take effect Monday, with the exception of the mainland affairs minister, who will not take office until mid-March due to personnel transfer procedures and his teaching obligations. Until then, MAC Deputy Minister Lin Cheng-yi will step in as acting minister of the council.
2018 Southeast Asian Literature Forum in Taiwan—involving local writers, publishing industry figures and six top talents from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam—is taking place March 2-6 in Taichung, Tainan and Taipei cities.
Taiwan’s gross domestic product growth forecast for 2018 was revised upward to 2.42 percent, reflecting stronger domestic demand and a recovering global economy, according to the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics Feb. 13.
