A three-day forum on combating corruption under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) opened yesterday in Taipei, with international experts joining the physical event for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
In addition, a special overseas event was held yesterday in Italy, with the Taipei Representative Office in Italy and the US embassy in Rome inviting officials and experts from Taiwan, the US, Italy and the EU to exchange opinions and promote cooperation on fighting disinformation and safeguarding democracy, Department of North American Affairs Deputy Director-General Jason Ma (馬博元) told a press conference.
The Taipei event, an international workshop focusing on anti-corruption, was organized by the Agency Against Corruption and the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau, and cohosted by Canada and the UK, he said.
Photo: Screen grab from a MOFA Web cast
Law enforcement officials and representatives from non-governmental organizations from 14 countries in North America, Europe, the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America are taking part in the workshop in Taipei.
Representatives to Taiwan from South Korea, Indonesia, the Marshall Islands, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as prosecutorial authorities and senior ethics officials, were also invited, he added.
The event aims to improve anti-corruption cooperation with global partners by sharing Taiwan’s efforts and achievements in promoting clean government and implementing the UN Convention Against Corruption, he said.
Incorporating important issues related to combating disinformation and corruption into international collaborations demonstrate the role Taiwan can play and show that the nation is a force for good on the global stage, he said.
The framework was launched by Taiwan and the US in 2015 as “a platform to utilize Taiwan’s strengths and expertise to address global issues of mutual concern,” its official Web site says.
Through training programs for officials and experts, initiatives under the framework aim to assist countries in the Indo-Pacific region to build their capacity in various fields, it says.
Over the past eight years, the framework has held 57 international workshops, which were attended by 6,300 government officials, experts and civil society representatives from 125 countries, it says.
Japan and Australia became full partners of the framework in 2019 and 2021 respectively, while the EU and countries such as Sweden, Guatemala, the Netherlands, Canada, Israel and Slovakia have joined to cohost workshops and other activities, it adds.
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