Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) yesterday met with Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), who has returned to Taiwan for the first time since taking office in July 2020 to report on her work.
Chen thanked Hsiao for her efforts, especially for coordinating the supply of disease prevention materials with US officials after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and securing vaccines for Taiwan.
Taiwan and the US work together harmoniously and communicate smoothly, Chen said on Facebook after the meeting, adding that diplomats who work hard to boost the nation’s international profile are the pride of Taiwan.
Photo: Screen grab from Chen Chien-jen’s Facebook page
Hsiao said she also met with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), as well as other senior officials, to discuss Taiwan-US relations.
She did not disclose details, saying only that several major projects were ongoing between Taipei and Washington.
“Over the past three years, bilateral relations in terms of two-way trade and investment, and cross-strait peace and stability, as well as Taiwan’s international participation, have seen steadfast improvement,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It is normal for diplomats to return to Taiwan to report on their work, ministry spokesman Jeff Liu (劉永健) told a news conference.
In other news, the ministry yesterday said that Taiwanese officials are to participate in APEC meetings that are to begin in the US on Tuesday.
The US is serving as APEC host this year and is to hold the first senior officials’ meeting, the finance and central bank deputies’ meeting, and other meetings in Palm Springs, California, from Tuesday to Feb. 28.
Sharon Wu (吳尚年), director-general of the ministry’s Department of International Organizations, told the news conference that she would attend the first senior officials’ meeting from Feb. 26 to 28.
Deputy Minister of Finance Frank Juan (阮清華) is to lead a delegation to the ministerial meeting from Feb. 25 to 26, she said.
More than 120 government officials have signed up to attend meetings to exchange views and seek opportunities to cooperate with other APEC members, she added.
Topics to be discussed in the meetings include trade and investment, food security, fisheries, anti-corruption and transparency, combating illegal deforestation, the digital economy, women in the economy, telecommunications and health.
The theme of this year’s meetings is “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All,” with interconnectedness, innovation and inclusiveness being the three priorities, Wu said.
The second senior officials’ meeting would be held in Detroit in May and the third meeting would be held in Seattle in August, she said.
The economic leaders’ week and the finance ministers’ meeting would be held in San Francisco in November, she added.
Additional reporting by CNA
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