Taiwan’s envoy to the APEC summit, Lin Hsin-i (林信義), on Friday invited US President Joe Biden to visit Taiwan.
During the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue, Lin, who represented President William Lai (賴清德) at the summit, spoke with Biden and expressed gratitude to the outgoing US president for his contribution to improving bilateral ties between Taipei and Washington over the past four years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Lin and Biden exchanged views during the conversation, with Lin extending an invitation to Biden to visit Taiwan, it said.
Photo courtesy of Taiwan’s APEC delegation
Biden is to step down in January next year, when US president-elect Donald Trump is to return to the White House for a second term.
A photograph showed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looking on during the conversation between Lin and Biden.
The annual APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting is the most important event for the 21-member regional trade bloc, with the heads of government from countries around the Pacific Rim attending to hold talks on the sidelines.
The organization is one of the few intergovernmental pacts in which Taiwan has full membership, but it still has to send special envoys in place of presidents to the annual leaders’ meeting due to pressure from China.
Taiwan joined APEC in 1991 under the name “Chinese Taipei.”
A Biden administration official downplayed the interaction, describing it as a “just a handshake” in the plenary room.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Biden planned to visit.
Lin on Friday attended the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue in the morning before a luncheon with representatives to the APEC Business Advisory Council followed by a dinner with leaders, the ministry said.
On Thursday, Lin held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of the leaders’ meeting.
The two discussed ways to continue enhancing bilateral partnerships and ensuring regional peace and stability, while exchanging views on issues such as promoting the development of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the region, the ministry said.
Blinken also posted a photograph of the two shaking hands on social media, and wrote that their talks touched upon “our growing economic relationship and our enduring shared commitment to foster an open, dynamic and peaceful Indo-Pacific.”
Lin previously attended APEC meetings in Brunei in 2000, China in 2001 and South Korea in 2005, during the administration of thenpresident Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
Lin — a senior presidential adviser and chairman of Taiwania Capital Management Corp (台杉投資管理), a government-led investment vehicle — was economic affairs minister from 2000 to 2002 and vice premier from 2002 to 2004.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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