Australia’s top envoy in Taiwan, who has just completed her first six months in the role, said she will continue to promote cooperation in trade, green energy, health, gender equality and personal relations with Taiwan during her tenure.
Australian Representative to Taiwan Jenny Bloomfield said that “it is a great honor” to serve in this role “at an important time.”
Bloomfield, who assumed the post on Feb. 1, said she hopes to promote more trade, investment, closer personal links and deeper dialogue in areas of common interest during her posting.
Discussing the two countries’ economic partnership, Bloomfield said that bilateral trade between Australia and Taiwan reached A$20 billion (US$14.74 billion) in 2019 and two-way investment passed A$30 billion last year.
The de facto Australian ambassador to Taiwan said she observed that trade and investment have grown steadily during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am strongly focused on further growing trade and investment by streamlining regulatory practices, and making Australian and Taiwanese businesses more aware of opportunities in each other’s markets,” she said.
Bloomfield said that Australia and Taiwan are natural partners in the transition to “zero emissions” through emerging technologies such as hydrogen, and that she is looking forward to identifying projects and areas for cooperation.
Bloomfield said that she also aims to work with Taiwan to strengthen gender equality, cooperation on Aboriginal issues, social innovation, digital technology, strong governance and human rights.
Bloomfield said that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected women and she hopes to work closely with Taiwan to promote the shared goal of promoting women’s leadership and ensuring an inclusive recovery.
Bloomfield said the pandemic has clearly demonstrated Taiwan’s importance in the global economy, particularly in semiconductors.
Both economies have become more aware how close their supply chain relationship is during the pandemic, especially in energy and agriculture, she said.
Bloomfield added that Australia and Taiwan have world-class medical research and health systems, and she hopes to work with Taiwan in vaccine and pharmaceutical development, along with clinical trials.
In May, Australia supported Taiwan’s efforts to participate in the World Health Assembly as an obeserver, and it has called for stability in the Taiwan Strait and a peaceful resolution of differences.
Regarding education, Bloomfield said that Australia is a significantly large overseas study destination for Taiwanese students and it is helping Taiwan reach its Bilingual 2030 national plan through English language teaching and teacher training.
Nearly 20,000 Taiwanese students enroll annually in Australian educational institutions, and more than 250,000 young Taiwanese have taken part in Australia’s working holiday program, she said.
As the Australian Office Taipei marks its 40th anniversary this year, Bloomfield said her office is planning to launch a series of activities to celebrate her country’s friendship with Taiwan.
“I look forward to working closely with government and business ... and other partners to continue to strengthen our partnership,” she said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS