Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
August 11, 2021
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen, and online participants from around the world: Welcome to today's Global Cooperation and Training Framework virtual conference—Green Energy: A Way to a Clean and Sustainable Earth.
First of all, I would like to thank our partners from the United States, Japan, and Australia for cohosting today's event. I would also like welcome Director Sandra Oudkirk of the American Institute in Taiwan, who is attending a GCTF event for the first time since she assumed office in July.
Established by Taiwan and the United States in 2015, the GCTF is a platform to utilize Taiwan's strengths and expertise to address global challenges. GCTF training programs aim to bolster capacity building and enhance multilateral cooperation on the global scale. To date, 34 international workshops have been held under the GCTF on emerging topics within the fields of public health, law enforcement, women's empowerment, media literacy, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. Now, we turn to the very crucial issue of green energy.
Development of clean and renewable energy is key to meeting the global climate goals. As we all know, climate change is a serious threat to our planet. Green energy is not just an effective tool to fight climate change, but also a means of preserving a sustainable earth for the coming generations.
Taiwan is ready and willing to stand with the world to tackle this issue. Our government is dedicated to making Taiwan a green energy center for the Asia-Pacific region. To achieve this goal, we are now engaged in an all-out effort to develop green energy and a circular economy. In addition, we have launched projects to promote green energy technology and industrial innovation as part of the government's “Five plus Two” industrial innovation plan.
Beyond our borders, we have helped our diplomatic allies develop their green energy sectors. I am giving two examples here. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, we have launched the Renewable Energy Policy Consultant-dispatching Project to help the country build a robust environment for renewable development to thrive. We are also working with the Marshall Islands through the Home Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Project to reduce CO2 emissions and increase local energy resources and improve energy efficiency.
At a time when the world is facing multiple climate crises, I believe this workshop can provide a pragmatic and useful forum to share collective experiences and explore the latest developments in green energy. My thanks also go to the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Energy, and the Industrial Technology Research Institute, ITRI, for co-organizing this meaningful event. I wish you all a fruitful discussion.
Thank you!