The eighth Yushan Forum will take place from March 17 to 18 at the Taipei Marriott Hotel. The theme of the event is “New Southbound Policy+: Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific, and a New World.” In line with President Lai Ching-te’s Smart Nation 2.0 policy vision, the meeting is being held parallel to the 2025 Smart City Summit and Expo and the 2050 Net Zero City Expo. The expanded forum will be attended by key political figures, industrial leaders, and experts from New Southbound Policy partner countries and other like-minded nations worldwide, including Denmark, Slovenia, the United States, Japan, the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and India. Participants will discuss how Taiwan leverages its digital state power and innovative technology to promote a digital New Southbound initiative and develop smart solutions with partner countries to jointly advance sustainable prosperity in the region.

On the first day of the event, President Lai will deliver opening remarks in the morning, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim will hold a luncheon for important guests in the afternoon, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung will host a welcome dinner for participants in the evening. Leading political figures attending the forum include Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Danish Prime Minister and current Chairman of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation; Janez Janša, former Slovenian Prime Minister; Keiji Furuya, Chairman of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council and member of the Japanese House of Representatives; Pavel Fischer, member of the Czech Senate and Chairman of its Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Security; Anna Fotyga, former Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mantas Adomenas, former Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Secretary General of the Polish-based Community of Democracies; and Tony Clement, former Canadian Minister of Health. Other guests include leaders of Taiwanese companies and industrial associations; representatives of globally renowned corporate groups such as Merck, US-based Coupang and Uber, and Thai-based AMATA; and delegates of the US-based Pacific Forum, the Asia Centre from Thailand, and various think tanks and nongovernmental organizations based in Indonesia, India, and other New Southbound Policy partner countries.

Taiwan held the first Yushan Forum in 2017. Now in its eighth iteration, the event has fully demonstrated the achievements of the New Southbound Policy. In line with integrated diplomacy, this year’s forum has been further transformed and elevated into a key discussion platform to connect Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific, and the world, and to incorporate Taiwan’s successful advancements and experiences in various fields into regional dialogue. The forum will make an indispensable contribution to sustainable democracy, sustainable prosperity, and sustainable peace in the Indo-Pacific region. (E)