TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Thursday (Nov. 7) met Taiwan’s delegation to next week’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru.

As China blocks Taiwan’s president from attending the organization’s annual leadership meetings, former Vice Premier Lin Hsin-i (林信義) will be representing Lai at the Nov. 15 event in Lima. At Thursday’s meeting, the president set out the main tasks for the envoy.

Lin and his delegation should let it be known that Taiwan is willing to actively contribute to the global community. It supports a fairer and more tolerant international trade order, and is willing to promote the development of digital trade with other economies, Lai said. 

The president expressed confidence that Lin and his group would be successful in putting those ideas across, per Radio Taiwan International.

Lai reminded his audience that Lin attended APEC ministerial conferences in 2000 and 2001, and represented Taiwan at the Busan summit in 2005. He said the delegation needed to tell the other APEC members of the country’s achievements in fields including AI and digital healthcare. 

Taiwan’s strong interest in cooperating with other economies on developing and boosting digital trade is also a prime aim for the summit, according to the president.