TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with guests from democratic allies at the eighth Yushan Forum on Tuesday.

In his speech, Lai said this was his first time attending the forum as president, per a press release. He said he was moved to see political leaders and representatives gathering in Taiwan to discuss cooperation, symbolizing unity among allies in a new era.

He reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to working with international partners based on shared values of freedom and democracy, counter authoritarian expansion, and pursuing a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Former Danish Prime Minister and Alliance of Democracies Foundation Founder Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was happy to meet with Lai again when he came to Taiwan in 2023, per CNA. He said he was even more convinced that despite global turmoil, Taiwan continues to be a beacon of democracy.

Rasmussen said over the past eight years, he has been proud of strengthening ties with Taiwan. He said that freedom must be universal or else it will erode.

He praised Lai’s recent announcement to raise Taiwan’s defense budget to 3% of the GDP. He said that every country must take responsibility for its security.