Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: MOFA response to false claims by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson regarding Taiwan and its president

[Unofficial Translation]

President Mirziyoyev, people of the Republic of Uzbekistan,

I extend my gratitude for the warm hospitality provided to my delegation.

It is meaningful to pay a state visit to Uzbekistan, one of Korea’s few Special Strategic Partners.

Under President Mirziyoyev’s exceptional leadership, Uzbekistan has been achieving rapid development, and I am privileged to be here and see this with my own eyes.

Today, President Mirziyoyev and I held our second summit, following our meeting in New York last September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

We reflected on the past 32 years of bilateral relations, and agreed to develop our Special Strategic Partnership in a future-oriented manner.

First, President Mirziyoyev and I agreed to further expand our collaboration in infrastructure, which has long been a key sector of cooperation between our two countries.

Today, a contract to export Korean-made high-speed train cars to Uzbekistan was concluded.

This marks the first export of such cars developed with Korea’s own technology. It will lead to broader bilateral cooperation in the railway sector, including high-speed rail operations, while also helping to enhance Uzbekistan’s railroad infrastructure.

Moreover, the “Arrangement of Cooperation in District Heating Modernization in Uzbekistan” was concluded, further strengthening the foundation for bilateral collaboration in this field.

I asked President Mirziyoyev for his continued consideration towards Korean businesses, so that they can participate in Uzbekistan’s construction of expressways, water supply facilities and other national projects, thereby generating many cases of exemplary bilateral cooperation in infrastructure following the Gas Chemical Complex Project in Surgil. We also agreed to continue close consultations in this regard.

Second, we agreed to maximize the synergy created through supply chain cooperation by combining Uzbekistan’s abundant mineral resources with Korea’s technological expertise.

The “Arrangement of Cooperation on Critical Mineral Partnership” concerning minerals such as tungsten and molybdenum was signed, and we agreed to actively work together to ensure that Korean companies are given priority to participate in projects that have been identified as economically feasible.

Moreover, we agreed to work together to ensure that the Rare Metals Center Project, through which our two countries are jointly developing refining technologies essential for high-purity rare metal products, yields mutually beneficial results.

Third, we agreed to expand cooperation in defense and the defense industry.

To this end, we will expand our bilateral cooperation, which has been focused on joint exercises, military medical technology and military training, to include information and communications, cyberspace and border surveillance systems as well as aircraft and other defense equipment.

Fourth, we lauded the National Children’s Medical Center of Uzbekistan, which is an exemplary case of bilateral healthcare cooperation, on obtaining international accreditation. We also welcomed the conclusion of Korean-Uzbek negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO, and the signing of the Protocol of Bilateral Negotiations during this visit.

As the Chair of the Working Party for Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO, the Republic of Korea will actively support Uzbekistan efforts to join the WTO.

Fifth, President Mirziyoyev and I concurred that in the pursuit of national development, it is vital to improve public administration services and enhance the capabilities of civil servants.

The Uzbek government has shown great interest in how the Korean government trains civil servants and also in cooperating with Korea on public personnel administration.

Building upon this, we adopted the “Agreement on a Cooperation Plan for strengthening the Government Capacity of Uzbekistan” and agreed to closely cooperate in this field.

Sixth, we discussed the latest developments on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to continue to play a part in the international efforts to denuclearize North Korea. I expressed my gratitude to Uzbekistan — a country at the forefront of the non-proliferation movement — for consistently supporting our policy on North Korea.

Finally, I briefed President Mirziyoyev in detail on the “K-Silk Road Initiative on Cooperation between Korea and Central Asia” – our first diplomatic strategy focusing exclusively on Central Asia. I also explained my government’s expectation and aspiration to expand our partnership with Central Asia.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to President Mirziyoyev once more for fully supporting this initiative and our plan to hold a Korea-Central Asia Summit next year.

Building upon this initiative, Korea will take a leap towards the future alongside Uzbekistan, a brother country that warmly embraced ethnic Koreans 87 years ago.

My government will faithfully implement measures for cooperation agreed upon today with President Mirziyoyev, and further advance our Special Strategic Partnership.

I would like to sincerely thank President Mirziyoyev once again for his kind invitation and warm hospitality.

Source:

On January 13, the Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held the “2025 Lunar New Year Security and Confidentiality Maintenance Coordination Meeting.” The meeting, chaired by Secretary-General Lin, Chian-Huey, gathered representatives from enterprises within the park and local branches to discuss security strategies for the holiday season. The primary goal was to ensure security during the holiday and further strengthen the protection of key national industrial assets.
Secretary-General Lin, Chian-Huey stated that the BIP would continue building upon last year’s security achievements by enhancing patrols mechanisms and risk management. This includes strengthening inspections at financial institutions and high-risk construction sites to ensure the overall safety of the industrial parks during the holiday period. She urged enterprises within the park to collaborate to maintain stability and harmony.
This meeting is one of the key projects of the BIP for the year. It focused on precise response strategies for safeguarding official confidential information and ensuring park security, reviewing the current state of protective facilities, and establishing an emergency response network. In addition, the meeting highlighted anti-fraud and anti-infiltration issues, with awareness campaigns aimed at enhancing vigilance and response capabilities among all attendees. Participants highly praised the BIP’s comprehensive security maintenance plan, recognizing that it not only enhances the sense of security within the park but also creates a safer operation environment for the new year.
According to past data, the BIP implements a well-structured emergency response mechanism during the Lunar New Year, addressing security vulnerabilities and confidentiality protection to uphold stability in the industrial park. This year’s strategy has been further refined with digital management tools and streamlined communication networks, creating a stronger security foundation for the coming year.
The meeting emphasized three key priorities: (1) a systematic security risk assessment covering core infrastructure within the park; (2) continuous improvements to emergency response mechanisms for faster and more efficient crisis handling; and (3) the promotion of fraud prevention and anti-infiltration education to provide multilayered protection against emerging security threats. Moving forward, the BIP is committed to further strengthening its security initiatives and exploring innovative technologies and strategies to protect enterprises and employees within the parks. This meeting also marks a strong start for security management during the Lunar New Year, fully demonstrating the professionalism and dedication of the BIP.

Contact Person: Tseng, Chien-Hua (Government Ethics Office)
Contact Number: 886-7-361-1212 ext 636
Email: chtseng@bip.gov.tw

Source:

On January 21, 2025, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) officially opened its new Metrology Laboratory in Xizhi. The opening ceremony was attended by Director-General Chen Yi-Ling, along with representatives from related laboratories and industry leaders. This new facility marks an important step forward in maintaining accurate measurements that benefit both businesses and consumers.

According to the Weights and Measures Act, devices like water meters, gas meters, scales, weighbridges, and breath alcohol testers must pass official verification before they can be sold or used for legal or trade purposes. The Xizhi Metrology Laboratory will take over the work of the Chengde Road lab, which served the public for more than 36 years. The new lab will continue providing important services like testing, calibration, and verification to help ensure fair trade and accurate readings for law enforcement.

As technology advances, many traditional mechanical devices-like water and gas meters-are being replaced by electronic systems. To keep up, the new lab offers updated testing services that meet the latest international standards developed by the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). This helps confirm that electronic meters are accurate and reliable. A key feature of the new lab is the addition of Asia’s first electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing system in real-flow conditions. This means that it can evaluate how external signals affect measurement accuracy under actual water and gas flow scenarios, a vital step in ensuring reliable readings and supporting the development of next-generation metering technologies. For local businesses, the Xizhi lab is also good news. Manufacturers can now perform important tests locally instead of sending equipment abroad, which saves both time and money.

BSMI is committed to running the lab efficiently and keeping it equipped with the latest technology. The goal is to protect consumers from inaccurate measurements, promote fairness in trade, and support local industries as they adopt new technology. With the Xizhi Metrology Laboratory in operation, the public can feel confident that the products they rely on-whether it’s for buying groceries, paying utility bills, or ensuring public safety-are measured accurately and fairly.

Responsible Division: Metrology Technology Division
Contact Person: Chen, Horng-Lin, Deputy Director
Tel. (O):+886-2343-4585
Email:hl.chen@bsmi.gov.tw

Source:

To address the impact of U.S. tariffs on Taiwanese companies operating overseas, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has commissioned the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to implement various support measures, thereby enabling businesses to make adjustments to supply chains and investment strategies. These support measures include:

1. Establishing a Task Force and Consultation Hotline for Immediate Assistance
TAITRA has set up task forces in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and South Asia to provide real-time support. A consultation hotline is available at +886-2-27577190.

2. Providing Customized Services for Businesses to Expand Overseas Deployments
The MOEA offers market insights for businesses relocating to the U.S. or other regions, which include investment locations, regulations, and partnership opportunities. Companies shifting production to supply local domestic markets receive regulatory guidance and networking support.

3. Establishing a Service Center for Investment and Trade in the U.S. to Support Supply Chain Relocation
Under the policy of “Connecting Taiwan to the World”, the MOEA will establish a Taiwan Investment and Trade Center in the U.S. It will help businesses assess investment environments, shift supply chains, and link with local partners.

4. Strengthening Taiwan-U.S. Industrial Collaboration and Assisting Taiwanese Businesses with Innovation and Upgrading
ITRI’s North America office will actively promote R&D and manufacturing collaborations, assist businesses in finding local partners, facilitate technological advancement, and boost competitiveness.

The MOEA will remain committed to monitoring global trade trends and supporting Taiwanese businesses in adapting to market changes.

Source:

The Taiwan Water Corporation Customer Service Hotline 1910 is still on 24/7 while TWC offices will be closed during the Lunar New Year. Users with any questions,such as water using,bills,reporting water leaking,can get assistance by calling 1910.

TWC provides a variety of convenient payment methods. Users can easily pay through the following methods during the Lunar New Year.
1.Taiwan Water Corporation official website.
2.Taiwan Water Corporation APP.
3.Mobile payment:JKOPay,iPASS MONEY,TCPASS,GAMAPAY,PiAPP,icash Pay,ezPay,beePay,TaiwanPay,Easy Wallet,PXPay and PlusPAY.
4.At convenience stores:Pay water bill at 7-11,Family Mart,Hi-Life,OK and Simple Mart. Users without water bills,can print them with KIOSK Machines,like ibon,OKGo,Fami Port,Life-ET.

Before returning to hometown for reunions,please check the water equipment at home,TWC offices will be open on February 3rd,2025.

Ministry of Economic Affairs Taiwan Water Company
Spokesman:Vice President Wu, Jing-Wen
Contact Number:04-22244191 Ext.205,Mobile Phone:0934-262835
Email:jingwen@mail.water.gov.tw

Business Contact:Director, Dept. of Business LIN,MENG-ZHU
Contact Number:04-22244191 Ext.400,Mobile Phone:0952-402749
Email:moju @mail.water.gov.tw

Source:

On January 8, foreign media outlet MIT Technology Review inaccurately reported that the Taiwan government would assist Chinese companies in establishing operations in Taiwan to circumvent US tariffs. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) regrets that the report was published without prior verification with the ministry. A formal letter has been sent to the media requesting a correction. The MOEA solemnly clarifies that its long-standing efforts have been directed toward assisting Taiwanese enterprises, not Chinese companies as the report incorrectly claimed. In response to the potential imposition of higher tariffs on Chinese products by the new U.S. administration, Minister Kuo has consistently emphasized the ministry’s support for Taiwanese businesses operating in China to relocate their production lines back to Taiwan or to other regions not affected by tariffs, including the United States.

The MOEA will continue to provide systematic support and resources based on the needs of businesses to help them diversify their investment strategies and build a resilient supply chain. Through the Taiwan Desk and the Connecting Taiwan to the World Policy, the ministry offers investment services to Taiwanese enterprises in eight New Southbound Policy countries, as well as in Japan and the Czech Republic. Additionally, economic divisions stationed in major countries and Taiwan Trade Centers are available to provide further assistance. In response to US policies and to meet the demands of Taiwanese enterprises’ clients, the government will continue to collaborate with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to invite domestic industry associations and enterprises to participate in the 2025 SelectUSA Investment Summit, strengthening their presence in the US market.

Furthermore, Taiwanese businesses can take advantage of the Three Major Programs for Investing in Taiwan, which facilitate the relocation of high-end production capacity back to Taiwan. The program has been extended to 2027, with revised eligibility criteria to expand coverage to overseas Taiwanese enterprises and foreign-invested companies. The program focuses on five trusted industries, the service sector, and the healthcare industry, with a mandatory requirement for AI applications to enhance the resilience of the supply chain. These measures are designed to encourage the return of Taiwanese businesses from China.

Spokesperson: MOEA DOIP Deputy Director, Rio Lu
Tel: (02) 2389-2111 ext. 812
E-mail: rio@moea.gov.tw

Contact: MOEA DOIP Section Chief, Chuang Wen-Chang
Tel: (02) 2389-2111 ext. 110, 0922-007-093
E-mail: wcchuang@moea.gov.tw

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The Water Supplies Department today announced that it will hold the Water Save Carnival from December 5 to 15 at HarbourChill, Wan Chai to raise public awareness about water conservation, working together to create a sustainable future without water shortages.

Under the theme “Save Water Today for a Sustainable Future”, the carnival features a variety of activities such as water conservation workshops, interactive games, and a Water Save Dave mascot meet-and-greet.

A giant crystal droplet will also be set up on-site, allowing the public to step inside for photos and pledge their commitment to the vision of “Cherish Every Drop, Sustain a Better Life”. 

The department said all activities at the carnival are free of charge, with some requiring pre-registration.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The Long Valley Nature Park officially opened today for public visits, with Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan and Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn officiating at the opening ceremony.

Covering an area of approximately 37 hectares, the park adopts an open design divided into three management zones – the Biodiversity Zone for core conservation, the Agriculture Zone for eco-friendly farming, and the Visitor Zone equipped with facilities for visitors and educational activities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Tse stated that the establishment of the park for active conservation of Long Valley by the Government represents a breakthrough.

By proactively restoring abandoned farmlands and some dry farmlands into various wetland habitats, including wet farmlands, a water flea pond, shallow ponds and marshes, as well as constructing irrigation channels to nurture various wildlife and facilitate eco-friendly farming practices, the park not only better conserves Long Valley but also achieves the complementary objectives of ecological conservation and agriculture.

He added that since construction began in 2019, the park has achieved encouraging conservation results. Over the past three years, the numbers of critically endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting, nests of Black-winged Stilt, and endangered Black-faced spoonbill have all increased severalfold.

Ms Linn said in her speech that the park possesses high ecological value and has effectively enhanced the wetland habitats. The necessary supporting infrastructure and visitor facilities have also been built, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to feature “Urban-Rural Integration and Co-existence of Development and Conservation” in the development of the Northern Metropolis.

The Opening Fun Day will be held at the park today and tomorrow, featuring in-depth tours, a farmers’ market, game booths, art and crafts workshops, and music performances. Admission is free. There are also free shuttle bus services between MTR Fanling Station and the park.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The first Hong Kong Fashion Fest will be held between November 20 and December 4 at various locations in the city, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung announced.

Mr Yeung today attended the Hong Kong Fashion Fest Preview, which was held to raise the curtain on the inaugural Hong Kong Fashion Design Week.

Speaking at the preview, the culture chief said the fashion fest will be an annual signature event signifying Hong Kong as Asia’s fashion design hub.

He outlined that there will be a variety of programmes, including a summit and a forum for high-level discussions on the development of the industry, fashion shows and exhibitions showcasing the work of local and overseas designers in haute couture fashion, workwear, evening wear and other types of clothing, and a cross-sector soiree.

“Not only will the Hong Kong Fashion Fest showcase the soft power of Hong Kong in fashion design, it will be a platform for local and international fashion designers and brands, and enhance collaboration of Hong Kong’s fashion design industries with the rest of the world. 

“We envisage that the Hong Kong Fashion Fest will attract 150,000 participants from over 15 countries and regions. It will fully demonstrate Hong Kong’s role as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange,” he added.

Source: Assainir, relancer et développer ensemble : les orientations du 18e gouvernement

The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture & Arts Festival opened today at the Hong Kong Coliseum, kicking off over 260 events to be held in the “9+2” cities in the Greater Bay Area from today to November 24, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department said.

In a video speech addressing the opening ceremony, Chief Executive John Lee said the festival is an annual mega event for the arts and culture industry in the bay area, adding that this year also marks the first time for Hong Kong to be the event’s host city, presenting audiences with the rich arts and cultural essence of bay area cities.

The event is presented by the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the Macao Special Administrative Region Government.

Mr Lee thanked the Ministry of Culture & Tourism for its ongoing support to the arts and cultural exchanges and collaborations in the bay area, enriching the cultural soft power of the region.

He expressed confidence that this year’s festival could further promote cultural integration and talent exchanges among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, and inject new creativity and vitality into arts and cultural development, while showcasing to the world the new landscape of a bay area for culture.

The Chief Executive also noted that with the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is dedicated to developing into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, and has been steadfastly presenting rich and diverse arts and cultural mega events.

Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique advantages of enjoying strong national support while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world under the principle of “one country, two systems”, thereby driving its cultural exchanges and co-operation with the Mainland and overseas countries, promoting Chinese culture, and telling the good stories of China on the global stage, he added.

Department of Culture & Tourism of Guangdong Province Deputy Director General Zhao Hong also gave a video speech at the ceremony. 

Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Department of Publicity, Cultural & Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR Deputy Director General Li Shuguang and Cultural Affairs Bureau Macao Special Administrative Region Vice President Cheang Kai-Meng officiated at the opening ceremony tonight.

The festival’s opening programme, “Sound River”, featured a new work of the same name written by contemporary renowned Chinese composer and conductor Tan Dun.

Under Mr Tan’s baton, the concert featured the newly formed Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture & Arts Festival Orchestra, comprising over 100 members from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, and the Macao Orchestra, to perform the world premiere of “Sound River”.