The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has increased its foreign visitation budget by 61 percent to boost diplomacy next year, a source said.
The increase to NT$420 million (US$13.05 million) from NT$260 million was in response to rising commodity prices and global inflation, a source with knowledge of ministry affairs said.
The increase was justified, as the budgets for some overseas visits by Taiwanese officials had not been sufficient, the source said.
Photo: Yang Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
The source said that a target for fiscal 2025 was “continued efforts to promote mutual visits from heads of state and other high-level officials between Taiwan and friendly nations.”
Its budget for next year also includes NT$540 million for hosting foreign guests, up by NT$65.72 million from this year.
It expects to host 2,418 foreign officials next year, 896 from North America, up by 63 compared with this year, the source said.
The number of foreign officials visiting Taiwan since President William Lai (賴清德) took office has reached new heights, highlighting the nation’s integration into the global supply chain and the pan-democratic bloc, they said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has met with many foreign officials, indicating that foreign politicians are eager to interact with Taiwan, the source said.
Increasing the funding would help Taiwan establish a more prominent international presence, the source added.
The overseas visitation budget covers the expenses of the president, vice president, presidential envoys the presidents of the five branches of government, and the heads and deputies of ministries.
Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Lin Yi-chun (林憶君) said that the ministry’s report failed to adequately explain what the increase in foreign visits would achieve, calling on the ministry to clarify the details.
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