The Taiwan-Philippines Smart Port Development Forum was held Dec. 9-11 in Kaohsiung City, highlighting the like-minded partners’ commitment to deepening city, port and tourism cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Attended by domestic officials, business representatives and delegates from the Philippine Ports Authority, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, tourism association representatives and the press, the forum focused on issues spanning maritime technology, smart cities and ports, and sustainable tourism.
At a banquet Dec. 9, Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi emphasized the importance of the Luzon Economic Corridor launched by the Philippines, Japan and the U.S. last year, adding that Taiwan is also establishing the Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor as part of its integrated diplomacy approach to deepen collaboration with partners like the Philippines. Chen concluded by saying that the ports of Kaohsiung and Subic Bay have rich untapped potential to complement each other as smart ports and technology zones.
Speaking at the forum Dec. 10, Lien Yu-ping, director general of the MOFA’s Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs, said that Taiwan attaches great importance to the Philippine market, as evidenced by an industrial delegation to the Southeast Asian country in August. Taiwan and the Philippines are geographically close, share democratic values and have highly complementary economies, she noted, adding that the forum will further strengthen bilateral relationships.
The Filipino guests took the opportunity to tour port facilities such as the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal and the Love River Bay area during their stay.
The forum followed the 9th joint science and technology commission meeting held Dec. 8 in Taipei City. Hosted by National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen and Renato U. Solidum Jr., Filipino secretary of the department of science and technology, the event reviewed ongoing cooperative projects.
According to the MOFA, the participants exchanged opinions on the Volcano, Ocean, Typhoon and Earthquake project; the Health, Agriculture and Training Initiative; and the Joint Research Program, as well as planning research directions for 2026. (YCH-E)
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