Taiwan-US Digital Economy Forum wraps up in Taipei

2015/12/04

The inaugural Digital Economy Forum concluded Dec. 2 in Taipei City, underscoring the strong and long-standing relationship between Taiwan and the U.S.

Organized by Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. and the American Institute in Taiwan, the one-day event saw the two sides discuss ways to promote sustainable and inclusive global economic growth through the application of information and communications technology.

Led by National Development Council Minister Duh Tyzz-jiun, the Taiwan delegation also comprised Minister without Portfolio Jaclyn Tsai and other senior officials from the Cabinet.

Participating U.S. representatives included Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State Vaughan Turekian, and officials from the Department of State, Department of Commerce and Federal Communications Commission.

In his opening remarks, Duh said Taiwan and U.S. businesses are complementary partners in the global ICT supply chain. “This high-level forum serves as an important policy dialogue platform that will facilitate bilateral collaboration on cross-border ICT applications,” he added.

According to the organizers, key topics covered in the discussions included creating legal and regulatory frameworks to support the digital economy, enhancing cooperation on the expansion of regional and global ICT connectivity, as well as ensuring data privacy and online intellectual property rights protection.

The two sides also explored opportunities for future collaboration in bridging the digital divide through initiatives under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Global Cooperation and Training Framework and U.S.-led Global Connect program.

Besides ICT-related issues, Taiwan and the U.S. reiterated the importance of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in addressing bilateral trade issues, and expressed support for the inclusion of binding rules to liberalize digital trade in the proposed Trade in Services Agreement.

In addition, the representatives stressed the significance of collaboration on the expansion of the World Trade Organization’s Information Technology Agreement in order to promote global trade in ICT goods.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=239714&ctNode=2194&mp=9)