Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler discussed related cooperation in key areas between Taiwan and U.S. during a Dec. 22 call, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Wu, who expressed appreciation to Wheeler for his staunch support of Taiwan, said the country is willing and able to make an even greater contribution to promoting environmental protection in the international arena. Taiwan is also committed to working even closer with the U.S. across a broad spectrum of areas going forward, he added.
Wheeler, in response, recognized Taiwan’s effort in protecting the environment through strengthening global collaboration. He said the country is an important U.S. partner in this field, and it is expected the two sides will expand exchanges.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “Minister Wu & @EPAAWheeler held a productive & rewarding call. The pair discussed an array of environmental protection issues, as well as the ways #TaiwanCanHelp promote related international efforts. We thank the head of the #US @EPA for his friendship & backing of #Taiwan.”
According to the MOFA, Taiwan and the U.S. have cooperated for nearly 30 years on environmental protection, citing visit of former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to Taiwan and the International Environmental Partnership.
The IEP aims to build a strong connection between countries on key environmental issues such as children’s health, mercury monitoring, environmental enforcement and compliance, remediation of contaminated sites, recycling of electronic devices, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. It also supports the development of an international network for experts to exchange best practices in environmental management. (YCH-E)
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