Taiwan committed to AI collaboration: Lai tells Shih

President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday called on Acer Group founder and honorary chairman Stan Shih (施振榮), his representative to the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen, China, to convey Taiwan’s commitment to collaborating with international partners on artificial intelligence (AI).

At a news conference at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Lai asked Shih to convey three messages at the meeting, which is to be held on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

First, Taiwan has always participated in and made contributions to APEC affairs, Lai said.

President William Lai, center right, shakes hands with Acer founder Stan Shih, center left, Taiwan’s envoy to the APEC summit, at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.

Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters

The nation has not only looked out for its own economic interests, but also contributed to the global economy by sharing its perspectives and experiences, he said.

Second, the nation plays a pivotal role in the global semiconductor supply chain and is an “indispensable partner” in efforts to promote global innovation in AI and digital transformation, Lai said.

Under the APEC framework, Taiwan will continue to advance global technological partnerships, facilitate innovation exchanges, and build a resilient and reliable AI supply chain, Lai added.

Third, Taiwan will continue to serve as a reliable partner in the Asia-Pacific region as the global economy faces challenges from geopolitical and energy issues, and the reshaping of supply chains, he said.

The nation will also accelerate economic and trade integration with regional partners to jointly uphold regional prosperity and stability, he added.

Shih had represented Taiwan at the 2007 APEC Leaders’ Week meetings in Sydney, Australia, where he proposed the APEC Digital Opportunity Center 2.0 initiative.

Shih is an influential business leader with extensive industry experience, Lai said, adding that he was confident that the envoy would make substantive contributions at this year’s APEC Leaders’ Meeting.

Shih in his remarks underscored the importance of international cooperation, saying it had contributed greatly to Taiwan’s successful transformation from an original equipment manufacturer into a key player in the global semiconductor, and information and communications technology industries.

AI is a focal point of this year’s APEC meetings, and Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors, the digital economy and AI supply chains make it an indispensable partner, and a steady, reliable force in the international community, he said.

Shih said he would engage with economic leaders at the APEC summit to convey the message entrusted to him by Lai.