Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
October 14, 2021
(As prepared for Delivery)
Thirty years ago, Taiwan joined the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Since our accession, we have worked with member economies to realize our shared vision of collective economy prosperity. APEC has grown into a leading incubator of ideas and a preeminent regional platform that strives to strengthen economic integration and promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth in the Asia-Pacific.
Taiwan's participation in APEC is a story of friendship and progress. Within the forum, Taiwan has led cooperation on transforming digital divides into digital opportunities, improving food security by reducing loss and waste, building the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises to adapt to new business environments, furthering women's empowerment and gender equality, strengthening preparedness for public health crises and natural disasters, and delivering numerous other tangible benefits to the APEC community. I'm confident that, together, we are making a real difference.
Building on the constructive role we play in APEC, we continue to strengthen our relations with regional partners. For instance, just a few weeks ago, we officially submitted our application to join the CPTPP. We also work with other countries to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific and uphold the rules-based international order that is the foundation for sustained growth and prosperity.
The political and economic landscape of the Asia-Pacific has undergone dramatic changes. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, APEC leaders launched the Putrajaya Vision 2040 and established future policy priorities. With both challenges and opportunities ahead, members are united in the pursuit of this vision. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's accession to APEC, we stand ready to work even more closely with member economies and remain fully committed to advancing APEC's shared goals in the coming decades. Thank you.