Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the evening of December 8, President Tsai Ing-wen attended the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan's 70th anniversary celebration, which was held at the Taipei Guest House. In remarks at the event, President Tsai called AmCham a dependable friend and an indispensable partner throughout the challenges of Taiwan's modern history, and emphasized that Taiwan, as a tech hub in Asia, can play an important role in the digital economy, supply chain resilience, infrastructure, export controls, and clean energy. The president expressed hope that AmCham can provide support and assistance in these key fields so that Taiwan and the United States can continue to enjoy strong industrial and commercial cooperation, and said she looks forward to AmCham being a true friend and partner to Taiwan for the next 70 years as well.

A transcript of the president's remarks follows:

It is my pleasure to be here to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan with you all.

I want to begin by congratulating AmCham Taiwan for being with Taiwan for the past seven decades.

AmCham Taiwan not only bore witness to the development and transformation of Taiwan's economy, it also stood by Taiwan when we underwent democratization – turning an authoritarian regime into a vibrant democracy today. As Taiwan persevered through historical challenges, AmCham Taiwan has always been a dependable friend and an indispensable partner.

One of the most recent examples of this friendship was AmCham Taiwan's letter to the White House and the State Department, urging the US government to prioritize and supply Taiwan with life-saving vaccines. I want to take this opportunity to thank AmCham Taiwan again for your efforts.

Unfortunately, the pandemic still poses grave challenges to all of us. As the world tackles a new wave of Omicron coronavirus infections, Taiwan and the US, as essential economic partners, should continue our work in strengthening our economic ties, securing the resilience of supply chains and helping with revitalizing the regional and global economies.

I was pleased to see the resumption of trade talks between Taiwan and the US under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) this June.

Two weeks ago, Taiwan and the US conducted the second annual US-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD), where representatives from our countries extensively discussed important issues relating to supply chain resilience, countering economic coercion, promoting the digital economy, strengthening 5G network security, and advancing collaboration in science and technology.

This Monday, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua announced Taiwan and the US's intention to cooperate through a new Technology Trade and Investment Collaboration (TTIC) framework, aimed at developing commercial programs and exploring actions to strengthen critical supply chains.

This framework also supports actions focusing on the US and Taiwan investment environment, industry trends, and new opportunities, while promoting investment in the US.

I am confident that AmCham Taiwan will play a critical role in facilitating these important and essential collaborations, while identifying new areas of cooperation and information sharing and furthering mutual understanding.

With such a close relationship between Taiwan and the US, and between the Taiwanese and American business communities, my administration looks forward to working with like-minded partners to help rebuild the much affected regional and global economies. We will also work to make sure global supply chains are never going to be as vulnerable as the pandemic exposed them to be.

Moreover, after many years of preparation, Taiwan applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in September. And our application was welcomed from countries such as New Zealand and others. It is our hope that, by joining this trade bloc, we can also further contribute to the development and recovery of the regional economy.

We also look forward to taking part in the recently announced Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. As Asia's hub of technology, and with the versatility and flexibility of our economy, Taiwan can play a crucial role in key areas including the digital economy, supply chain resilience, infrastructure, export control, and clean energy. I'd appreciate AmCham Taiwan's support and facilitation in these key areas, and hope our industries and corporations can continue working together.

I want to end my talk by extending my appreciation to AmCham Taiwan for your staunch support through the years. As I said before, as a former member of our trade negotiation team, I fully understand the immense importance of our trade partnership.

The past two years were not easy for us, as we had to face many challenges. Fortunately, with Taiwan's successful effort in combating the spread of COVID-19, we are able to gather here today to celebrate AmCham Taiwan's 70th anniversary.

It is fantastic to be here with friends from AmCham. I hope AmCham Taiwan will continue to be a true friend and partner to Taiwan for the next 70 years.

Among those present at the event were AmCham Taiwan Chairperson C.W. Chin, AmCham Taiwan Director Andrew Wylegala, and AIT Taipei Office Director Sandra Oudkirk.