Headline News
Taiwan regrets exclusion from World Health Assembly
Taiwan denounced its exclusion from this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting since taking part in 2009.
“Any actions to exclude and even suppress Taiwan not only go against the purpose of the WHO and is unfair to the people of Taiwan but will also bring an unforeseeable negative impact on global efforts in disease prevention,” the Presidential Office said in a statement.
The Presidential Office also thanked the United States, Canada, Japan and like-minded allies in Europe and international groups for their voiced support to Taiwan’s participation.
Leave no one behind in global health
Taiwan provided US$6 billion in international and humanitarian aid efforts since 1996, benefitting millions of people in over 80 countries. Attending the World Health Assembly as an observer since 2009, Taiwan has shared its medical experience and advanced health technology with the global community.
Conversely, Taiwan benefited greatly from receiving timely information from the WHO, which is critical in fighting new outbreaks of serious epidemics in other parts of the world.
After all, Taiwan administers the Taipei Flight Information Region, and handles 60 million passengers a year and its participation in WHA will make the world a safer place for all.
See photography exhibition about Taiwan and its contribution to global health: http://leavenoonebehind.com.tw
President Tsai calls for new cross-strait interactions
In an interview with the United Daily News, President Tsai Ing-wen called on mainland China to work with Taiwan to open up a new form of interaction to preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait, based on “new realities, new consultations and new forms.”
Stable cross-strait relations are not only in the interest of Taiwan and mainland China, but for the region as a whole, Tsai said. She also urged mainland China to use new methods for evaluating ties with Taiwan since the old methods are inflexible and burdened by bureaucracy.
Economics
Taiwan expects 2% growth as IMF forecasts 1.7% for 2017
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) expects the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow by 2% this year, while in its World Economic Outlook the IMF forecasts 1.7% growth for Taiwan for 2017.
MOEA’s optimism is based on a recorded six consecutive months of export growth and seven consecutive months of export orders and the launch of the iPhone 8 later this year.
Taiwan is to benefit from that by the expected growth in the related supply chain by Taiwan manufacturers.
Taiwan seeks FTA with UK
President Tsai Ing-wen said to a visiting UK Parliamentary Taiwan-British Group delegation, that she will seek to advance trade between Taiwan and the United Kingdom, expressing hope to accelerate it with a free trade agreement.
Bilateral trade and mutual investment are important components of Taiwan-UK bilateral relations and the UK is the fifth largest foreign investor to Taiwan and therefore plays a crucial role in Taiwan’s economic development, Tsai said.
The UK is the most popular investment destination in Europe and is currently Taiwan’s third largest trading partner in Europe.
Tourism
Taiwan 30th in travel and tourism ranking
Taiwan ranks 30th, up two notches from two years ago among 136 economies surveyed, in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
It also ranked seventh as the most tourism friendly country in Asia with good scores as well as for ground and port transportation facilities, cultural resources, business travel and for safety.
Free half-day tours for transit or transfer passengers
Taiwan Tourism Bureau offers free half-day tours to transit or transfer passengers who have a 7-24 hour layover in Taipei and are visa-exempt or have valid Taiwan travel visas.
The morning tour includes sites in Sanxia and Yingge. The afternoon tour includes visits to the Taipei 101, Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Memorial Park.
Only a passport valid for at least six months and a completed immigration embarkation/disembarkation card is required.
For more information about the free half-day tours and how to register:
