October 6, 2021
No. 194
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu extended his congratulations to the Taipei-based Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region (FFTC) via a prerecorded video at the FFTC’s 50th anniversary virtual celebration and symposium on October 6. In his congratulatory message to this international agricultural organization, he emphasized that Taiwan, as the host country and a founding member, is firmly committed to cooperating with the FFTC and its member countries to promote agricultural technology research and economic development for a brighter, more prosperous future.
Minister Wu stated that for over half a century the FFTC has successfully implemented a range of projects to eliminate crop diseases, increase food production, and enhance food value chains, making vital contributions to economic prosperity and food security in the Asia-Pacific region. He also noted that Taiwan, through donations to FFTC programs, has assisted farmers in South and Southeast Asia achieve higher incomes and strengthen international competitiveness. In addition, he said Taiwan and the FFTC are planning their first-ever jointly hosted workshop under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework. The event will focus on smart agriculture and will pave the way for increased cooperation with more partners across the globe.
At the FFTC symposium, themed “Making Agri-Food Systems Sustainable,” experts from Taiwan and abroad held in-depth discussions exploring ways to create sustainable and resilient agrifood systems in the face of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. President Tsai Ing-wen and Minister Chen Chi-chung of the Council of Agriculture also delivered congratulatory messages at the event.
Headquartered in Taipei, the FFTC was founded in 1970 as an intergovernmental organization committed to promoting international agricultural research and related applications. The FFTC’s current member countries are Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; Indonesia is an observer. (E)