The two-day Yushan Forum started today in Taipei under the theme of “New Southbound Policy+: Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific and a New World.”
“Taiwan will continue to engage with the world, and we welcome the world to come closer to Taiwan,” President William Lai (賴清德) said at the opening ceremony.
Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, the forum is taking place today and tomorrow.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In addition to Lai, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and foundation president Michael Hsiao (蕭新煌), international participants such as former Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Slovenian prime minister Janez Jansa, Czech Senator Pavel Fischer and American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene are also in attendance, the ministry said in a news release.
Taiwan’ continues to show its commitment to “democracy, freedom, high-end technology and social innovation, fostering strong partnerships with like-minded allies,” Michael Hsiao said.
The new “New Southbound Policy Plus” policy would see the nation establish “six corridors” of collaboration with participating nations: technology, health, resilience, think tanks, non-governmental organizations and young people, he said.
Taiwan is a “beacon of liberty, a testament of how people thrive in freedom,” Rasmussen said.
Referencing ongoing global geopolitical tensions, Rasmussen said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) “is watching Ukraine,” and democracies must work together to signal collective strength and commitments.
“Taiwan belongs to the family of democracies,” Rasmussen added.
“Taiwan is increasingly becoming a crucial pillar of peace and stability, not only for the Indo-Pacific region, but the entire world,” Jansa said.
Japan would continue its deepening ties with Taiwan and would cooperate with Taiwan on its commitments to democracy and regional stability, said Keiji Furuya, chairman of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council and Member of the House of Representatives in Japan’s National Legislature.
“A Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency,” Furuya said, repeating a statement by former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s policy on maintaining peace in East Asia.
Looking at the US, Greene said that the US stands with its regional allies to promote shared interests and regional stability.
Referencing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s plans to expand manufacturing in the US, Greene said Taiwan plays a crucial role in “reindustrializing the United States.”
The forum is to continue for another day tomorrow, featuring more remarks from high-level officials from Taiwan as well as like-minded nations.
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