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On the morning of October 9, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation led by Ms. Sandra Oudkirk, US Department of State Senior Official for APEC and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. She reaffirmed that Taiwan is willing to strengthen cooperation with the US and other like-minded countries. Under the APEC framework, she said, we can work together to respond to the challenges of the digital economy, and enhance the economic empowerment of women. We can also assist small and medium-sized enterprises' transition into the digital age, and participate in regional economic integration and global value chains to spur sustainable and inclusive economic growth, she added.
A translation of the president's remarks follows:
I am delighted to meet Ms. Sandra Oudkirk from the US Department of State today. As you said at a Congressional hearing last month, Taiwan is a democratic success story, a reliable partner, and a force for good in the world. And those words ring true for many people around the world. The fact that you are visiting Taiwan less than 6 months after being appointed in May is a significant show of US support.
In addition to offering a warm welcome, I want to thank you for attending the first Taiwan-US Pacific Islands Dialogue to exchange ideas, so that together, we can safeguard regional stability and shared values.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Oudkirk also attended the Yushan Forum, and has gained a greater understanding of cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and the New Southbound Policy countries. Over the past three years, the New Southbound Policy has helped Taiwan develop more comprehensive relationships with ASEAN and South Asian countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Our New Southbound Policy and the US Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy share the same vision. And under the APEC framework, our exchanges are promoting Taiwan-US cooperation.
The theme for this year's APEC meeting is "Connecting People, Building the Future." So I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm that Taiwan is willing to strengthen cooperation with the US, and other like-minded countries. Under the APEC framework, we can work together to respond to the challenges of the digital economy, and enhance the economic empowerment of women. We can also assist small and medium-sized enterprises' transition into the digital age, and participate in regional economic integration and global value chains to spur sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
