This cooperation is in line with the New Southbound Policy. A key component of the government’s national development strategy, the policy seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.

According to the president, this year’s edition of the program—themed New Taiwan Generation, New Southbound Vision—helped build bridges of cultural understanding with New Southbound Policy target nations, furthering Taiwan’s efforts to expand across-the-board exchanges.

Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen said Sept. 18 that the Muslim community is an important partner of Taiwan and an indispensable force for promoting the government’s New Southbound Policy.

The New Southbound Policy is a crucial part of Taiwan's economic and trade strategy in the face of increasing regional economic integration as well as new challenges and business opportunities linked to the integration trend.

President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) sent a congratulatory letter to President Halimah Yacob upon the latter’s becoming the Republic of Singapore's first female head of state. The newly inaugurated president, a former speaker of parliament of Malay heritage, assumed the presidency automatically as prescribed in law, being the only qualified candidate for the reserved election slated for September 13.

President Tsai Ing-wen met on the morning of September 14 with directors from the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) and the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA), as well as the representatives of a number of semiconductor firms from home and abroad. She stressed that the Taiwan government will continue to promote the development of the smart machinery industry to meet the needs of the industrial development, and thus enhance Taiwan's global competitiveness.

President Tsai Ing-wen outlined Sept. 12 six policies aimed at fostering the animation, comics and games industries at the Golden Comic Awards in Taipei City.

President Tsai Ing-wen welcomed Sept. 11 overseas compatriot students from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam enrolled in Taiwan vocational institutions, saying they will play an important role in strengthening ties between the nation and its key partners in Southeast Asia.

The World Congress on Information Technology officially opened Sept. 11 in Taipei City, drawing nearly 4,000 captains of industry, government officials and IT experts from 80 countries and territories for one of the most influential high-tech gatherings in the world.

While attending the opening ceremony for the 2017 World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) on the morning of September 11, President Tsai Ing-wen expressed her hope that Taiwan would create even closer cooperative relationships with countries throughout Asia regarding smart applications and digital economies. She also stressed that the government would continue with its efforts to realize the objective of transforming Taiwan into a digital nation and a smart island.