Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding on the donation of US$650,000 to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat Dec. 11 in Shenzhen, China, underscoring government commitment to advancing regional development, according to the MOFA.
It was inked by Jonathan C.Y. Sun, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of International Organizations, on behalf of the government and APEC Secretariat Executive Director Eduardo Pedrosa.
Sun signed the pact while attending an informal senior officials’ meeting in the Chinese city. In his remarks, Sun said that since Taiwan joined APEC in 1991, it has made substantive contributions through donations and organizing events, adding that the country will continue to work with fellow member economies to enhance regional prosperity.
In response, Pedrosa stated that Taiwan’s contributions and participation have not only helped the secretariat advance its work but also benefited people throughout the Asia-Pacific through capacity building, the ministry added.
Under the MOU, the money will be allocated to the Human Security Sub-Fund, which was initiated by Taiwan and set up in 2006; the Women and the Economy Sub-Fund, jointly established by Taiwan, Australia and the U.S. a decade ago; and the Policy Support Unit, the ministry said.
APEC is one of the most important intergovernmental organizations that Taiwan participates in, with personnel from over 40 governmental agencies attending forums and over 30 APEC-related conferences and events being staged in Taiwan annually. The government pledged to keep enhancing the country’s visibility and influence through coordinated public-private efforts, the MOFA concluded. (POC-E)
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