The sixth Yushan Forum, themed Revitalizing, Reorienting and Reconnecting, is held Oct. 7 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of TAEF)
 

The sixth annual Yushan Forum opened Oct. 7 in Taipei City, bringing together academics, experts and opinion leaders from home and abroad to discuss regional development and recovery in the digital era.

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taipei-based think tank Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, the daylong physical-virtual event involved representatives from across the New Southbound Policy region, as well as Canada, EU, Japan, Palau and the U.S., among other countries and territories.

According to the MOFA, President Tsai Ing-wen addressed participants during the opening ceremony, while Vice President Lai Ching-te delivered a recorded message at the roundtable discussion.

Palau President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., former New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council Chair Keiji Furuya also gave speeches, the ministry added.

Attendees discussed ways to reorient the Asian economic framework through building resilience and reconnect Asia in a new ecosystem of partnership through societal action. They reviewed the implementation and outcomes of the NSP where it featured public-private-people partnerships.

The MOFA said the annual forum serves as a key platform to foster regional and multilateral dialogue. It also promotes the country’s connection with NSP partners and the global community to enhance regional peace and prosperity.

Unveiled in 2016 by Tsai as a key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the NSP 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. (SFC-E)