Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi (陳正祺) departed for London yesterday for the 26th UK-Taiwan Trade Talks, which aim to enhance economic resilience and supply chain collaboration, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said.
The meeting, to be jointly hosted by Chen and British Minister of State for International Trade Nigel Huddleston, is also to cover cooperation in the realms of energy, semiconductors and scientific research, the ministry said in a statement.
Both sides are to build on the progress achieved following the signing of a memorandum of understanding during last year’s talks and boost two-way innovation collaboration, such as introducing joint projects that focus on next-generation communication, semiconductor technology, electric vehicles and renewable energy, it said.
Photo: AFP
Regarding energy, the two countries are also to discuss topics such as net-zero carbon emissions policies, low-carbon hydrogen and offshore wind power, with the aim of progressing toward the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, it said.
Chen, who is staying in the city until tomorrow, is also set to meet with Taiwanese businesspeople and local industry representatives to exchange views and promote investment in Taiwan, it said.
Trade between Taiwan and the UK totaled US$6.6 billion last year, which was a 10-year high, the ministry said, adding that the UK is Taiwan’s third-largest trading partner in Europe.
In other news, former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) has been named President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) representative to an event scheduled to be held in Washington by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Presidential Office spokeswoman Lin Yu-chan (林聿禪) said on Friday.
Su is to attend the event marking the 40th anniversary of the NED — a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting democratic institutions around the world — on the 14th of this month on behalf of Tsai and deliver remarks, Lin said in a press release.
NED president Damon Wilson visited Taiwan in July and conferred the organization’s “democracy service medal” on Tsai, Lin said, adding Tsai’s achievements in promoting democracy and human rights would also be recognized during the upcoming NED event.
Su, who currently does not hold any official post, is to depart for New York on the 12th and arrive in Washington the evening of the 13th for the event, Lin said.
According to Lin, Su was chosen because of his track record on promoting human rights in Taiwan, including working as a human rights lawyer during the Martial Law era and endorsing the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2019 in his capacity as premier.
Su, 76, served as head of the Executive Yuan from 2006-2007 and again from 2019 until January this year.
He started working as a lawyer in 1971 and was known for being part of a team of lawyers defending the core members of the pro-democracy protest on Dec. 10, 1979, later known as the Kaohsiung Incident, who were put on trial for sedition.
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