Highlighting Taiwan’s economic accomplishments and commitment to achieving greater participation in regional economic integration are the nation’s top priorities for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting, according to James Soong, representative of President Tsai Ing-wen to the annual gathering.
Taiwan and 17 other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies jointly issued the Seoul Statement during the 4th APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry, which took place Oct. 30-31 in the South Korean capital.
As Taiwan expands its presence in South and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand through the government’s New Southbound Policy, forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are growing in importance as platforms for sharing the country’s expertise in areas ranging from the digital economy and food security to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Chen also said talent cultivation is one of the core values underpinning government policies like the five-plus-two innovative industries initiative and New Southbound Policy. He expressed his hope that the creativity and vibrancy of the nation’s youth can usher in a new era in Taiwan’s development.
News and events concerning Taiwan from the past several months
Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) hosts 2017 APEC Good Registration Management Regulatory Science Center of Excellence Workshop in NTUH International Convention Center from October 31 to November 2, 2017. It gathers representatives from the government, academy, and industry of 13 different countries. The total number of participants is more than 120.
The Legislative Yuan passed Oct. 31 the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, designed to relax regulations on visas, work permits, residency, health insurance, tax and pensions so as to attract leading talents to Taiwan.
In line with President Tsai Ing-wen’s policy of using Taiwan’s cultural soft power to return the country to the international stage, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture’s Art Bank have worked together to put on two exhibitions of Taiwanese modern art, one called Future Allegories: An Exhibition of Taiwanese Contemporary Arts, the other What do you see? Contemporary Art from Taiwan.
Taiwan’s economy has continued to grow for the past 20 years thanks in part to westward business expansion into mainland China. However, as costs associated with land, labor, environmental protection and capital acquisition in mainland China have continued to rise, the government introduced the New Southbound Policy to assist in the continued development of Taiwan’s business community.
Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) in collaboration with Japan in APEC Life Science Innovation Forum - Regulatory Harmonization Steering Committee (LSIF-RHSC) promotes Good Registration Management (GRM). A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between TFDA and APEC LSIF in July 2017, and TFDA is an APEC Training Center of Excellence (CoE) in Regulatory Science in the area of Good Registration Management.
