The Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) is a capacity-building framework established on June 1, 2015, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). The Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association has co-sponsored every GCTF workshop since 2019. Hiroyasu Izumi, Chief Representative of our association, delivered a speech on June 1, 2020, at a press conference held in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan and the AIT to commemorate the 5th Anniversary of GCTF.
Our partnership with Taiwan through the GCTF has facilitated the coming together of experts to significantly intensify the global discourse on wide-ranging topics of contemporary interests, including public health, energy, women’s rights, and law enforcement. The GCTF released a joint statement of consensus to organize workshops outside Taiwan and invite more extensive participation from other countries to further advance the functions of this beneficial framework.
Our association has also published a website dedicated to GCTF on our corporate platform to inform Taiwanese citizens in more detail about the progressive and collaborative initiatives undertaken between Japan, the United States, and Taiwan. We will continue to cooperate with the GCTF to more actively build innovative programs.
A very good morning to Mr. Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Brent Christensen, Director of the AIT Taipei Office, and members representing the media. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you for gathering here in such large numbers.
The Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) was established five years ago today as a capacity-building framework for government officials and experts of third countries under the collaborative aegis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). The GCTF has organized more than 20 workshops since its inception.
The Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association joined the GCTF as a co-sponsor in 2019 and has ever since hosted all the seven workshops. Our association also co-sponsored a virtual GCTF event entitled “Combatting COVID-19 Disinformation,” which was held on April 29, 2020.
Japan, Taiwan, and the United States espouse common values such as freedom, democracy, and human rights. Japan has thus joined the beneficial GCTF initiative undertaken by the United States and Taiwan. I consider it as my great honor today to deliver this joint statement along with Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Joseph Wu, and the Director of the AIT Taipei Office, Mr. Brent Christensen.
The GCTF addresses a wide range of topics including public health, energy, women’s rights, and law enforcement, all very practical and necessary concerns for any country or region of the globe.
Taiwan is internationally lauded for its efforts in dealing with COVID-19. It also commands the highest global technology and knowledge levels in various fields. It is therefore very beneficial for the international community as a whole to support Taiwan’s greater participation on the global stage.
The workshops originally planned for this year had to be changed because of the spread of COVID-19. However, the endeavors of the GCTF continue to evolve innovatively in the virtual space. This joint statement reflects our agreement on working more flexibly, hosting workshops outside Taiwan, and soliciting the broad participation from nations across the globe, including the exploration of co-sponsorships from other like-minded countries.
We have published a dedicated GCTF website on the corporate platform of the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association to help more number of Taiwanese citizens understand these advanced initiatives undertaken through the collaboration between Japan, the United States, and Taiwan. The Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association will continue to cooperate more actively with the GCTF in all its efforts including the enhancement of its public relations.
Japan cannot and will never leave Taiwan. Japan and Taiwan will move forward together. Last but not the least, I am deeply grateful for the contributions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan and the AIT.
Joint Statement