TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The ninth Yushan Forum opened Monday at the Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei under the theme “Indo-Pacific Partnership Prospects: Taiwan’s Values, Technology, and Resilience.”
Former Fijian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry delivered the opening remarks, saying Taiwan is a sovereign and independent nation deserving of international recognition. He said that despite Taiwan’s small size, it has overcome numerous challenges to become one of the most admired economies and democracies in the Indo-Pacific region, per Liberty Times.
Chaudhry said that as global armed conflicts disrupt supply chains and worsen inflation, Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy provides strategic opportunities for small island nations. He thanked Taiwan for sharing expertise in public health, education, renewable energy, and agricultural technology, which he said are crucial for addressing Fiji’s food security challenges.
“Fiji is an agricultural country with the potential to produce various crops to supply the domestic market and the Fijian diaspora market in neighboring countries,” Chaudhry said, adding that Taiwanese technology has helped modernize Fijian agriculture.
He emphasized that Fiji, as a sovereign nation, should fully engage with countries willing to support its development and called on the international community to help Taiwan gain the recognition it deserves.
Another speaker was former Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo, who is now mayor of Naga. She discussed how democratic governments can deliver results for citizens during uncertain times.
Robredo explained that Naga’s slogan, “An Maogmang Lugar,” means “a happy place,” reflecting her administration’s goal of fostering a sense of belonging among residents. She also highlighted the city’s “People’s Council” model, which grants seats to civil society organizations to participate in budgeting decisions, demonstrating a spirit of participatory governance.
Robredo shared her experience with the “MyNaga” app, a modular and scalable digital platform that converts citizen complaints into geographic data to help guide policy decisions. She said the quality of technology depends on the intent behind its use and that digital tools can serve the public interest only when combined with a strong civic culture.
Robredo called on the Indo-Pacific community to turn technological advances into democratic achievements and build a transparent and empowered future, concluding her remarks with the Filipino greeting “Mabuhay,” meaning “long live.”
