Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

On the morning of November 12, President Lai Ching-te attended a press conference before the departure of Taiwan’s delegation to the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM). In remarks, President Lai thanked Acer Group Founder and Honorary Chairman Stan Shih (施振榮) for once again serving as our leader’s representative to the meeting.

President Lai expressed hope that Honorary Chairman Shih will convey three major propositions to other APEC leaders and the international community: that Taiwan is actively participating in APEC affairs, promoting global technological cooperation and building resilient and reliable AI technology supply chains, and deepening cooperation with key partner countries. The president stated that through these efforts, Taiwan aims to make its voice heard by the world, jointly safeguard regional prosperity and stability, and accelerate regional economic and trade integration and development.

A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:

This year’s AELM will convene next week in Shenzhen, China. I would like to extend my special thanks to Honorary Chairman Shih for accepting my invitation to serve as our country’s APEC leader’s representative and lead a delegation to attend this year’s meeting on my behalf.

APEC is the most important multilateral mechanism for economic and trade cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. All member economies interact and engage with one another on an equal basis, and Taiwan is participating in this year’s APEC meetings in accordance with this very principle.

I want to thank the many like-minded countries that, throughout the APEC preparatory process, have continuously emphasized the importance of Taiwan’s participation in all meetings.

Honorary Chairman Shih is a prominent business leader in Taiwan. In 2007, he served as our leader’s representative at the AELM held in Sydney, Australia, where he proposed the second phase of the APEC Digital Opportunity Center initiative. That effort demonstrated Taiwan’s willingness to contribute to the international community while enhancing our global visibility and cooperation with other countries.

He has also long dedicated himself to cultivating business management philosophies for the next generation. The core values he champions – including how enterprises create value, balance interests, and achieve sustainable operations – are not only vital principles for business management, but can also guide Taiwan’s interactions with countries around the world.

At this year’s AELM, I hope that Honorary Chairman Shih will draw on his past experience to convey the following three major propositions to all APEC leaders and the international community:

First, as an APEC member economy, Taiwan has consistently and actively participated in and contributed to APEC affairs. Doing so not only safeguards our own economic interests, but also allows Taiwan’s perspectives and experience to contribute to the global economy, ensuring that Taiwan’s voice is heard by the world.

Second, Taiwan plays a pivotal role in semiconductor supply chains and is an indispensable partner in global AI innovation and digital transformation. Through the APEC platform, Taiwan will continue to promote global technological cooperation and foster exchanges on innovation while actively building resilient and reliable AI technology supply chains.

Third, as the global economy faces challenges stemming from geopolitics, energy issues, and supply chain restructuring, Taiwan will continue to serve as a steady and trustworthy force in the Asia-Pacific region. Taiwan will deepen cooperation and exchanges with key partner countries to jointly safeguard regional prosperity and stability, and accelerate regional economic and trade integration and development.

In closing, I once again thank Honorary Chairman Shih and all members of the delegation. I am confident that with his rich experience in industry, Honorary Chairman Shih will make concrete contributions to the discussions at this year’s meeting. I wish the delegation a smooth and successful trip.

Honorary Chairman Shih then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for entrusting him with representing Taiwan at this year’s AELM, a role which he is taking up again after 19 years. He said that he is honored, and keenly aware of the weight of the responsibility.
 
Honorary Chairman Shih noted that over his several decades of devotion to the high-tech industry, he has witnessed Taiwan grow from its beginnings in contract manufacturing into a key force in the global semiconductor and information and communications technology sectors. Taiwan’s success, he pointed out, rests not just on its own efforts but still more on building mutual trust and creating value together with like-minded partners.

Honorary Chairman Shih said that amid the rapid development of AI, he has held fast to a spirit of continuous learning. He added that he gives thought to how enterprises create value, balance interests, and achieve sustainable development, and expressed hope that he can help guide the AI industry toward creating lasting well-being for humanity.

Honorary Chairman Shih pointed out that AI is a key topic of discussion at APEC this year and is also a field in which Taiwan excels. With a solid foundation and extensive experience in semiconductors, digital technology, and the AI supply chain, he said, Taiwan is an indispensable partner in AI globally and can indeed serve as a steady and trustworthy force in the international community.

Honorary Chairman Shih stated that he will make good use of this opportunity to represent President Lai at the AELM. He added that he will actively communicate with the leaders of APEC member economies, fully convey the president’s three propositions, and demonstrate that Taiwan, as an indispensable partner, will continue to play its part in APEC as a shareholder.

Also attending the press conference were Secretary-General to the President Pan Men-an (潘孟安), National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio and National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文), NSC Deputy Secretary-General Vincent Chao (趙怡翔), Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger (葛葆萱), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of International Organizations Deputy Director General Chang Chih-sha (張芝颯), APEC Business Advisory Council Representatives Acer Chairman Jason Chen (陳俊聖) and Quanta Computer CTO Ted Chang (張嘉淵), and Leader’s Representative Consultant Vincent Shen (沈司琦).