Premier Lai Ching-te on Tuesday took part in the opening ceremony of the Global Cooperation and Training Framework International Workshop on Combating Transnational Crime and Forensic Science. The premier remarked that the fight against illegal drugs requires transnational cooperation, and Taiwan stands ready to face any challenge, acting forcefully as a builder of regional peace and a worthy partner making advanced contributions. The nation will fulfill all of its responsibilities as a member of the international community, and will take the initiative to forge reciprocal and substantive ties as an equal with other countries.
The workshop, which will run between August 13 and August 17, is a joint project of Taiwan's Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the American Institute in Taiwan. Nearly 80 participants are attending, including law enforcement officials from Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region, and representatives from the finance and banking communities. Collaborative discussions at the workshop focused on illegal narcotics and drug enforcement, U.S. currency and passport counterfeiting, and other related issues.
For over three years, Taiwan and the United States have been working together under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework to address such issues as public health, women's rights, energy efficiency, e-commerce, humanitarian aid, disaster prevention and relief, and the narrowing of the digital divide. A total of 12 training programs have been held, with over 200 representatives from 33 Asian-Pacific countries coming to Taiwan to take part.