Taiwan to offer anti-COVID help at APEC meeting

TAIPEI, Nov 16  -- Taiwan's government will reiterate its willingness to contribute to global anti-COVID-19 efforts during the APEC Ministerial Meeting, a Taiwanese economic official said at a press conference on Monday.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, one of the few global collaboration platforms in which Taiwan is able to participate, is scheduled to hold its annual ministerial meeting on Monday night Taipei time, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported.

The meeting, which will take place virtually for the first time due to the pandemic, will focus on post-pandemic economic recovery as well as trade and investment priorities.

At the press conference, National Development Council chief Kung Ming-hsin, one of two ministerial-level officials who will represent Taiwan at the meeting, said he expects to share three key points with other economic leaders during his three-minute statement.

The first one is to highlight Taiwan's successful economic path, which has made it one of the few economies able to maintain positive economic growth amid global supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic, Kung said.

The second key point is Taiwan's intention to further contribute to digital health and global anti-pandemic efforts as information and communications technology and the health care sectors are among Taiwan's strengths, he said.

Third, Taiwan will reiterate its call to push for inclusive economic development, focusing on the participation and fair treatment of women, youth and people with disabilities in the labour force, Kung said.

Minister without Portfolio John Deng, the other Taiwanese official who will participate in the meeting, said at the same press conference that he will discuss Taiwan's support for free trade and multilateralism.

Taiwan supports open trade that allows economies to assist each other, as some countries have restricted food exports amid the pandemic, the former economic affairs minister said.

Also on trade, Deng said that Taiwan's efforts on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) have been "welcomed" by members of the trade bloc.

He said Taiwan will continue to actively seek participation in the CPTPP and will take the necessary steps after CPTPP membership requirements are clearly stipulated, noting that the legislatures of four signatories have yet to ratify the CPTPP.

Deng made the comments in response to questions on Taiwan's interest in participating in the CPTPP.

-- BERNAMA