Taiwan, the U.S., Japan and newly designated full partner Australia staged the annual Global Cooperation and Training Framework Joint Committee Meeting Dec. 17 in Taipei City, reviewing the results of 2021 workshops and planning for the year ahead.
The event involved Harry Ho-jen Tseng, deputy minister of foreign affairs; Douglas Yu-tien Hsu, director general of the ministry’s Department of North American Affairs; Jeremy Cornforth; deputy director of the American Institute in Taiwan; Yokochi Akira, deputy representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association; and Michael Googan, deputy representative of the Australian Office, Taipei.
According to Tseng, 13 virtual GCTF workshops were held in Taiwan to great effect this year, with Canada, Israel, Slovakia and the U.K. participating as guest co-hosts on various occasions. Three separate events staged in the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Eswatini and St. Kitts and Nevis under the GCTF franchise model were equally successful, he said.
In the coming year, Tseng said, workshops will center on digital economy, gender equality, health cooperation, internet freedom, law enforcement, smart farming and sustainable oceans.
A joint statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the AIT, JTEA and AOT said the GCTF has grown significantly over the past years, with the four sides pledging to continue expanding professional cooperation with like-minded partners going forward.
Since the GCTF’s establishment June 1, 2015, a total of 45 workshops spanning areas of overlapping Taiwan-U.S.-Japan-Australia interests have been organized for nearly 3,500 participants from 100 countries worldwide.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said: “Thumbs-up to cooperation! Deputy Minister Tseng participated in the #Taiwan, #US, #Japan & #Australia #GCTF Joint Committee Meeting. 2021 progress was assessed, 2022 plans laid. New Year’s workshops include internet freedom, smart farming & more.” (YCH-E)
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