"This is an international center. It's not a Taiwanese government center. It is an independent and international center. It's been put here to help poor people everywhere in the world, no matter where they are," he said.
"We are not here ? to focus on Taiwan's particular problems," he said.
"Taiwan's reputation will gain more from us being a very important international institution to help poor people, than an institution that's helping Taiwanese farmers," he added.
Juergen Friedrichsen, deputy director general of the AVRDC, asked the minister to comment on the chances of direct cooperation between Taiwan and China on the center's projects.
The minister said it is feasible that the two countries could exchange scientists through the center's operations.
The center distributes over 20,000 seed samples to over 180 countries every year.
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