The APEC annual meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand this week. TSMC founder Zhang Zhongmou represented Taiwan at the Economic Leaders Meeting. In addition to meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, he thanked Japan for reiterating the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait in various international arenas. Zhang Zhongmou and his wife also talked with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the sidelines, and Lee even generously shared the same framed photo on Facebook.
Zhang Zhongmou attended the first closed-door meeting of economic leaders today, and had a dialogue with representatives of the Business Advisory Committee (ABAC); he also held bilateral talks with Fumio Kishida to exchange views on issues of concern to both parties.
Zhang Zhongmou said that Taiwan and Japan lend each other a helping hand in times of disaster and difficulty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides even provided each other with precious medical supplies such as masks, protective clothing, and vaccines in the first place, demonstrating mutual trust. A close friendship of mutual assistance.
During the talks, Zhang Zhongmou and Kishida Fumio also exchanged views on the global situation and the cooperation achievements of Taiwan-Japan economy and trade. Kishida Fumio said that Taiwan will continue to deepen day-to-day cooperation and exchanges, and the two sides are actively exploring various possibilities.
Zhang Zhongmou also thanked Japan for reaffirming the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait in various international arenas, and asked Japan to continue to support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership ( CPTPP) and other international organizations and important agreements; Taiwan has a high degree of willingness and ability to meet the high standards of CPTPP, and is willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with Japan and other countries with similar ideas to jointly maintain and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region develop.
In addition, Zhang Zhongmou and his wife will also meet with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today. According to Lee Hsien Loong’s Facebook photo, the three of them are sitting on a single chair sofa, talking and laughing happily, and the atmosphere is harmonious.
Lee Hsien Loong pointed out that the last time the three of them drank tea together was at the APEC Leaders Summit in Papua New Guinea in 2018. At that time, Zhang Zhongmou was also a representative of Chinese Taipei. Nice to meet you two again. (Editor: Pan Yijing) 1111118