Taipei, Feb. 17 (CNA) A senior official with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is scheduled to visit Taiwan later this week to promote bilateral cooperation in the area of environmental protection and to launch a new cooperation program.
Jane Nishida, U.S. EPA acting assistant administrator for international and tribal affairs, will promote U.S.-Taiwan cooperation through the International Environmental Partnership (IEP), a joint multi-year effort of the U.S. EPA and Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement.
After her arrival on Feb. 19, Nishida will meet with senior officials at Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the AIT, which represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of bilateral diplomatic ties.
Nishida will also join Taiwan partners in the launch of the "Kids Making Sense International" air quality initiative at Stella Matutina Girls' High School in Taichung, central Taiwan, the AIT said.
In 2014, Taiwan and the U.S. officially launched the International Environmental Partnership (IEP), a network of experts from around the world working together to strengthen capacity for addressing environmental challenges.
Through the initiative, the two sides work jointly to address common priorities such as climate change, environmental education, electronic waste management, air pollution, mercury monitoring, and contaminated soil and groundwater.
Nishida, who has over 30 years of environmental experience in federal and state government and international organizations, has visited Taiwan several times to promote the IEP and launch other cooperative programs, the AIT said, adding that her most recent trip to Taiwan was in April 2015.
"Her visit to Taiwan will further develop the long-standing partnership between Taiwan and the United States on pressing regional and global environmental priorities," the AIT said.
(By Elaine Hou)
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