Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) founder Morris Chang (張忠謀), who has been named by President Tsai Ing-en (蔡英文) as Taiwan’s representative to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, arrived in Thailand on Thursday to attend the event, where he could meet with leaders from China and the United States.
Chang and his wife Sophie Chang (張淑芬) were greeted at an airport in Bangkok by M.L. Chayotid Kridakon, Thai trade representative and advisor to the Prime Minister of Thailand.
Speaking with local media at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport before his departure, Chang, who is serving as Taiwan’s APEC envoy for the sixth time, said he looks forward to “exchanging ideas” about various issues with other APEC leaders at the Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok from Nov. 18-19.
However, it remains unclear as of press time whether Chang will have any bilateral meetings with other countries’ leaders or representatives on the sidelines of the APEC summit.
According to reports from international media, China’s President Xi Jinping (習近平), who just wrapped his visit to Indonesia for the G20 summit, arrived in Thailand earlier Thursday for the economic leaders’ meeting.
United States Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the summit, on behalf of President Joe Biden, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to be absent from the two-day meeting, reports said.
Chang also said at the airport that he would make his “best endeavors” to fulfill the tasks Tsai assigned to him.
At a press conference on Oct. 20, Tsai said Taiwan’s APEC envoy and other officials attending APEC gatherings in November should seek to draw the attention of APEC members to Taiwan’s “key influence” in global supply chains while expressing the country’s willingness to collaborate with its regional partners on “building safe, reliable and resilient supply chains.”
The Taiwanese delegation should demonstrate Taiwan’s determination to boost its economy while facilitating green transition, workers’ rights, and women’s empowerment, Tsai said at the time.
She also instructed the delegation to appeal for APEC members to address differences of opinion within the region and work together to develop a framework for inclusive and sustainable economic development.
The 91-year-old TSMC founder previously served as Taiwan’s APEC representative five times under the Tsai administration from 2018-2021 and once under former President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in 2006. Taiwan joined APEC in 1991 under the name “Chinese Taipei.”
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel