A public forum on charting the future course of Taiwan-U.S. relations was co-staged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and American Institute in Taiwan June 4 in Taipei City.
Moderated by Minister without Portfolio Audrey Tang, the event reviewed the results of AIT's groundbreaking Digital Dialogues. It is seen as another example of close cooperation between Taipei and Washington in the 40th year of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA40).
During the opening ceremony, MOFA Deputy Minister Hsu Szu-chien said it is critical for governments around the world to reach out to citizens in ways capitalizing on internet freedom and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
The Digital Dialogues are an invaluable platform for giving voice to fresh ideas on Taiwan-U.S. ties and strengthening participatory democracy, Hsu added.
Also bullish on the forum was AIT Director Brent Christensen, who described the event as a top organizational priority during TRA40. The U.S. will continue working with Taiwan in tackling global problems while promoting shared values and opportunities for collaboration among like-minded partners, he said.
Echoing Hsu’s and Christensen’s remarks, Tang said the forum is an important venue for Taiwan and the U.S. to listen to the voice of the people and shape policymaking accordingly.
The Digital Dialogues took place online from April to late May. They involved more than 400 netizens offering opinions on Taiwan-U.S. relations, as well as suggestions for raising the country’s international profile. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw