Vice President Lai Ching-te said April 27 that Taiwan is committed to deepening cooperation and exchanges with European countries in the post-pandemic era.
According to Lai, the pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in the global economy. A new initiative put forward by the European Union to deepen links with Asia, including Taiwan, illustrates that the time is ripe for the two sides to further strengthen their relationship, he added.
The vice president made the remarks while attending the 2021 EU-Taiwan Healthcare Forum in Taipei City.
Other high-profile participants at the event included H. Henry Chang, chairman of European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan, and Guillermo Martinez, deputy head of European Economic and Trade Office.
Lai took the opportunity to praise ECCT and EETO for their exemplary efforts in hosting the first bilateral health forum. He said the event would help lay the groundwork for future collaboration between Taiwan and the EU in related industries.
The success of the Taiwan Model proves that democratic governance is the best approach to managing pandemics and crises, Lai said. The model also demonstrates how Taiwan Can Help realize the World Health Organization’s goal of Health for All, he added.
As the world prepares to enter the post-pandemic era, opportunities abound for partnerships between Taiwan and European countries to reach new heights, the vice president said. The government looks forward to bolstering cooperation with Europe in sectors such as biotechnology, health management, digital health and vaccine development, he added. (DL-E)
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