MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA sincerely thanks Pope Leo XIV for publicly extending sympathies to Taiwan over losses caused by Typhoon Danas

Date：2025-07-17
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

July 17, 2025No. 247On July 16, Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni stated that after learning about the casualties and severe damage caused by Typhoon Danas in Taiwan, Pope Leo XIV had been praying for those affected by the disaster and had instructed the Office of Papal Charities to provide concrete aid to the people of Taiwan.On behalf of President Lai Ching-te, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung sincerely thanks Pope Leo XIV for expressing concern over losses caused by Typhoon Danas and offering prayers for those affected in the spirit of God’s love for all people. Moving forward, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to cooperate with Pope Leo XIV to promote related humanitarian assistance and charity work, thereby jointly advancing the universal values shared by all humankind. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA sincerely thanks Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba for publicly extending sympathies to Taiwan over losses caused by Typhoon Danas

Date：2025-07-13
Data Source：TAIWAN-JAPAN RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

July 13, 2025 
No.241 

In the evening of July 12, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba posted a message on social media platform X extending sympathies to Taiwan over the losses caused by Typhoon Danas and expressing the hope that all those affected would be able to resume their normal lives as soon as possible. 
 
Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan immediately extended appreciation to the government of Japan for the thoughtful message. 
 
Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Kazuyuki Katayama; Mrs. Akie Abe, widow of late Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe; and many Japanese parliamentarians friendly to Taiwan from across the political spectrum also openly and promptly expressed empathy. These gestures fully demonstrate the mutual concern and genuine friendship between Taiwan and Japan. 
 
Taiwan and Japan are both situated in areas that frequently experience typhoons and earthquakes. Whenever a natural disaster strikes, Taiwan and Japan can count on each other for assistance to overcome related impacts. Indeed, the cordial and cooperative relations between Taiwan and Japan serve as an important asset and model for the international community. Immediately after the occurrence of the typhoon, the people and government of Taiwan fully embarked on disaster relief. Taiwan will continue to maintain close contact with Japan on these efforts. 
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung once again sincerely thanks the people and government of Japan for their warm sentiments and assistance. He hopes that in the future Taiwan and Japan will continue to engage in extensive and substantive collaboration and exchanges in all areas, including natural disaster prevention and mitigation, so as to bolster the resilience of their societies and develop an even stronger, closer, and more robust bilateral partnership. (E) 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

July 13, 2025No. 240During his extensive trip to Paraguay, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung visited the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park in Ciudad del Este on July 12. He was accompanied by Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, Minister of Industry and Commerce Javier Giménez García de Zúñiga, Minister of Information and Communication Technologies Gustavo Villate, Executive Secretary of the Office of the President Marianna Saldívar Gadea, Deputy Minister of Public Works Emiliano Fernández, Governor of Alto Paraná César Landy Torres, President of the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University Jorge Daniel Duarte Rolon, and other officials.
 
The technology park originates from a commitment made by President Lai Ching-te to assist Paraguay with economic development and job creation. Then Vice President Lai made the pledge in August 2023 while visiting Paraguay as a special envoy to attend the inauguration of President Santiago Peña Palacios.
 
When Minister Lin took office on May 20 last year, he held in-depth talks on the project—which would have a profound impact on Paraguay—with President Peña, who was visiting Taiwan to attend President Lai’s inauguration. The two agreed that Taiwan and Paraguay would work together to make Paraguay a South American base for the smart technology industry and talent incubation.
 
During his visit to the park, Minister Lin remarked that promotion of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in Paraguay followed a comprehensive plan led by a national team of businesses from Taiwan. He said that the project integrated civil engineering, private 5G network architecture, and smart applications. Minister Lin added that the initiative would not only create favorable conditions for Taiwanese enterprises investing in Paraguay, but that it would also bring substantial industrial development and employment opportunities to Paraguay. He noted that the process of building the park had been a team effort. Although there had been challenges along the way, Minister Lin said that the difficulties were a source of strength for today. He stated that the newly revitalized Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park would offer Taiwanese companies the same 006688 land rental incentive provided by special zones in Taiwan. (The 006688 plan offers free rent in years one and two, a 40 percent discount in years three and four, and a 20 percent discount in years five and six.) This is the first time that the preferential policy has been made available to Taiwanese enterprises overseas. Paraguay is also the first country outside Taiwan to apply the incentive. Minister Lin said that he had long advocated for the strategy of larger enterprises guiding smaller ones, combining soft and hard tactics, promoting public-private cooperation, and facilitating internal-external exchanges. He explained that the integration of various technological, financial, and human resources would help Taiwanese industries deploy investments in Paraguay. Minister Lin indicated that Paraguay’s stable economy, abundant and cheap supplies of water and electricity, and convenient business environment could make it a base for Taiwanese enterprises entering the South American market. 
 
For the trip, Minister Lin extended special invitations to prominent manufacturers from all areas of the supply chain to join the delegation, tour the technology park, and explore business opportunities in Paraguay. The group included representatives from the semiconductor, AI applications, smart manufacturing, smart transportation, animal husbandry, cold chain logistics, and food processing industries. It is hoped that the companies will establish a presence in Paraguay as a joint fleet, joining forces in a new flying geese pattern of development and creating a Taiwan+n model of global industrial deployment. Taiwan will work together with Paraguay to create mutual prosperity and well-being, realizing President Lai’s policy vision of making Taiwan a global economic powerhouse.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

July 13, 2025No. 239
After arriving in Paraguay in the evening of July 10, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung visited the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the morning of the following day to meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Rubén Ramírez Lezcano. The two reviewed progress made on key components of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, which is being implemented by the government of Taiwan under the policy framework of integrated diplomacy. Based on mutual trust and mutual benefit, Taiwan and Paraguay are jointly promoting exchanges in economics, trade, investment, infrastructure, smart medicine, technology, education, and smart transportation. Cooperation has brought prosperity to both countries and benefited the Taiwanese and Paraguayan people.
 
Speaking at a joint press conference with Minister Ramírez after the meeting, Minister Lin said that Taiwan and Paraguay shared the core values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. He affirmed that the bilateral diplomatic relationship was rock-solid. Looking ahead, Minister Lin pledged that both countries would continue to work together to deepen interactions and collaboration in various fields and jointly enhance the well-being of their people. Minister Lin noted that this demonstrated Taiwan’s policy of values-based diplomacy was steadily developing into value-added diplomacy, showing the world that Taiwan-Paraguay ties were a model of successful cooperation.
 
In the evening, Minister Lin and Minister Ramírez cohosted a reception celebrating the 68th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of Paraguay. The event was attended by over 250 guests, including Paraguayan Supreme Court President César Diesel, Chamber of Deputies Speaker Raúl Latorre Martínez, other deputies and senators, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the overseas Taiwanese community. In his remarks, Minister Lin commended the fruitful outcomes of the long-term and close partnership between Taiwan and Paraguay. He said that recent benchmark initiatives such as the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park, the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University, the Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project, and an electric bus pilot program were steadily yielding results. Noting that Taiwan was a vital link in global supply chains, Minister Lin said that Taiwan was willing to use its advantages in ICT to further deepen cooperation with Paraguay on comprehensive technological development. Minister Lin added that Taiwan was ready to assist its fraternal ally Paraguay in achieving its national blueprint for development and transformation, jointly realizing the vision of sustainability and prosperity.
 
In his address, Minister Ramírez thanked Taiwan for its long-term assistance in promoting the development of agriculture, livestock, public health, medicine, education, innovation, and infrastructure in Paraguay. He said that cooperation had targeted the sectors of society that were most in need, benefiting farming communities and young students. Praising the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University as a landmark bilateral cooperation project, Minister Ramírez said that more than 170 engineers had already been trained. He noted that the two countries were working together to construct campus buildings, representing their shared commitment to investing in knowledge and talent. Minister Ramírez added that Taiwan and Paraguay were jointly creating a future for the next generation by incorporating smart industries and global supply chain integration into their cooperation projects. 
 
Paraguay is an important diplomatic ally of Taiwan. A mutual agreement on visa-free entry for ordinary passport holders between the two countries that will come into effect on July 25 is expected to further advance exchanges among the people of Taiwan and Paraguay and make investment by Taiwanese companies in Paraguay more convenient. The two nations will continue to deepen cooperation in all spheres and jointly inject new momentum into their democratic partnership.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, leading 75 members of the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum – along with others from its partners, Shenzhen University and the youth groups of Macau’s public security forces – today continued on a six-day study tour of Jiangsu.

 

This morning in Nanjing, they visited Dr Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum and the Nanjing Yunjin Brocade Museum.

 

In the afternoon, Mr Tang led the group on a visit to the “Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders”, where they paid their respects to the victims by participating in a worship ceremony.

 

In the evening, Mr Tang and the group met CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee Standing Committee Member and CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee Political & Legal Commission Secretary Li Yaoguang. Mr Tang thanked provincial and municipal leaders for their strong support for the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum and the work done to make arrangements for the visit. He said members had been able to experience Jiangsu’s profound historical and cultural heritage, understand the country’s development from ancient times to the present, and enhance their national identity.

 

Led by Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk, the group have also visited other notable sites – including Niushou Mountain, Jinling small town, the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Nanjing Museum – as part of the study tour. Yesterday they also attended a thematic seminar at Nanjing University to deepen their understanding of the country’s foreign policies.

 

Over the next three days, the study group will visit the Nanjing Public Security Bureau’s Qilihe special police training base and the Nanjing Treaty Historical Materials Exhibition Hall. They will then depart for Wuxi, where they will call on the city’s leaders.

 

In addition to seeing historical landmarks in Wuxi, members will visit the National Supercomputing Center and key enterprises to gain insights into China’s high-tech advancements and development.

 

Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong on Sunday.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today began a visit to Sichuan y touring the Shenshuping Base of the China Conservation & Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) and the Wolong Natural Museum in the Giant Panda National Park.

She also attended the closing ceremony of the “2025 Youth Internship Programme at Wolong Region of Giant Panda National Park”, with 20 Hong Kong youths completing the programme.

In the morning, Miss Mak visited the Shenshuping Base of the CCRCGP. Accompanied by Hong Kong youths participating in the internship programme, she toured the facilities at the centre, which were rebuilt with Hong Kong’s support.

The interns, who served as guides, gave a detailed presentation about nature conservation and the work of caring for and rearing giant pandas.

Miss Mak then visited the Wolong Natural Museum in the Giant Panda National Park, where the interns shared their experiences of ecological conservation work at the Wolong National Nature Reserve.

The youth affairs chief attended the internship programme’s closing ceremony in the afternoon.

In a speech, Miss Mak highlighted that the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) has collaborated with the Sichuan Wolong Nature Reserve Administration and the CCRCGP to organise the internship programme since 2017, adding that it provides Hong Kong youths with professional training and practical work experience in nature conservation and ecotourism.

She thanked the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Forestry & Grassland, the Wolong Nature Reserve Administration and the CCRCGP for their long-standing support for Hong Kong’s youth development, and enabling students to gain practical experience through the internships.

Jointly organised by the HYAB and various Mainland official cultural, nature conservation and scientific research institutions, the HYAB Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland comprise six internship programmes, providing over 110 specialised internship positions for Hong Kong youths.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) Ms Loretta Lee attended the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing today (July 17). There, Ms Lee delivered remarks at the Thematic Event on Supply Chain Service to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities to Mainland and overseas companies and media representatives, encouraging enterprises to leverage Hong Kong’s unique position as an international financial, shipping, and trade hub to establish their multinational supply chain management expertise.

Organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the CISCE is the world’s first national-level expo focused on supply chains. InvestHK has joined the CISCE for two consecutive years and delivered speeches on Thematic Event on Supply Chain Service and Thematic Event on Advanced Manufacturing topics this year.

The Thematic Event on Supply Chain Service topic focuses on upgrading the industrial supply chain and explores new global collaboration efforts. In her remarks, Ms Lee promoted Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework and the city’s role as a gateway connecting Mainland China and global markets under the national dual circulation strategy. She said, “Hong Kong as a ‘super connector’ and a ‘super value-adder’ can help Mainland enterprises better cope with the international market and balance the stability and flexibility of the supply chain. The city has rich experience in supply chain management. From infrastructure, professional service talent, international supplier networks to government policy support, Hong Kong can fully meet enterprises’ needs in different stages of business operation such as procurement, trade, and logistics. As a leading international financial centre, Hong Kong boasts a vibrant and diverse capital market. In the first half of this year, Hong Kong led the world in initial public offering fundraising, making it the ideal destination for corporate financing. I encourage Mainland enterprises to establish corporate treasury centres in Hong Kong to facilitate global expansion.”

CCPIT Vice Chairman Mr Chen Jian’an also delivered a speech at the event.

On the same day, the Head of Transport, Logistics and Industrials at InvestHK, Mr Benjamin Wong, joined a thematic forum at the Thematic Event on Advanced Manufacturing, sharing insights on the innovation-driven development through green and low-carbon technologies. He noted that the demand for green and low-carbon solutions in industries is currently experiencing a growth momentum. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been supporting the development of the local innovation and technology sector through various measures, including enhanced research and development support, expanded funding channels, and strengthened collaboration among academia, industry, and the Government, with the aim of accelerating Hong Kong’s transformation into a green tech hub. To further enhance green and sustainable economic development, InvestHK has established a dedicated sustainability team, which actively attracts overseas and Mainland enterprises with leading technologies and solutions in carbon neutrality to establish or expand their operations in Hong Kong.

Following the CISCE, InvestHK will host a roundtable on July 18 to further discuss Hong Kong’s role as a multinational supply chain management centre, and conduct in-depth discussions and exchanges with representatives of Beijing-based companies interested in expanding their business in Hong Kong. Ms Lee will deliver welcome remarks, encouraging Beijing companies to use Hong Kong as their multinational supply chain management centre. In the sharing session, Mr Wong and the Managing Director of Li & Fung Development (China) Ltd, Mr Chang Ka-mun, will discuss the latest environment and trends of global trade and supply chains, and how Hong Kong can help Mainland and overseas enterprises build global supply chain management expertise. Experts from PricewaterhouseCoopers and China Merchants Bank will also share insights at the event on Hong Kong’s tax benefits and financial services for Mainland enterprises looking to expand internationally.

During the visit, the InvestHK delegation will meet with various enterprises to provide the latest updates on Hong Kong’s latest policies and opportunities, thereby assisting them to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages to expand overseas.

To download event photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720327606368.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Small Unmanned Aircraft (Amendment) Order 2025 and the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Amendment) Order 2025 will come into effect tomorrow (July 18) to facilitate the development of the low-altitude economy.

The amendments to the Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) Order (Cap. 448G) serve to extend the existing regulatory regime to cover SUA weighing over 25 kilograms but not exceeding 150kg. Relevant guidance documents including the updated Safety Requirements Document and Advisory Circulars will be available on the Civil Aviation Department (CAD)’s website (www.cad.gov.hk/english/sua_new.html) from July 18.

Meanwhile, the amendments to the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Cap. 448C) serve to facilitate the trials of various unconventional aircraft in Hong Kong. New articles are added under Cap. 448C to empower the Chief Executive to permit the trials of unconventional aircraft under specified conditions. Practical guidance in respect of the trials of unconventional aircraft will be published on the CAD’s website (www.cad.gov.hk/english/uca_trials.html) on July 18.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Housing Bureau (HB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) today (July 17) for the establishment of a strategic partnership to integrate the strengths of both parties and create a complete innovation ecosystem from research and development (R&D) to market application, building possibilities for the future with new ideas and technologies. This partnership will leverage the cutting-edge expertise of NAMI in advanced materials alongside the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA)’s public housing practical verification platform. This will accelerate the validation and application of new building materials while creating a sustainable technology development model through patent protection and commercialisation mechanisms, supporting the development of Hong Kong into a regional intellectual property trading centre.

The HB and the HKHA have been committed to promoting innovative construction technologies to enhance the efficiency, quality, and safety levels of public housing construction. The HKHA leverages the vast supply, standardised designs, and highly repetitive nature of public housing to provide an ideal practical verification platform for new construction technologies. This diverse application scenario will accelerate technological advancement and marketisation, facilitating the rapid transformation of research results into practical applications. For example, the HKHA and NAMI co-developed the MiSmartLink innovative coupling technology for application in second-generation Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) projects, further simplifying on-site processes and enhancing construction productively. Relevant design patents will protect the research outcomes and promote technology applications in the industry market through technology licensing.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said that the HB hopes this co-operation can inject more innovative and technological power into Hong Kong’s construction industry by providing a practical verification platform through public housing. At the same time, the collaboration with NAMI will explore the establishment of a broader partnership network to effectively utilise the innovation resources of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by reinforcing connectivity, actively develop international markets, and position Hong Kong as a regional hub for construction technology intellectual property, reinforcing its role as a “super connector”.

Addressing the ceremony, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, remarked that the MOU signed by the HB and NAMI effectively demonstrates positive interaction among the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors in innovation and technology in Hong Kong. It further stands as an exemplary model of highly effective collaboration between Government, industry, academia and research. NAMI’s R&D in construction materials is tailored to HKHA’s diverse application scenarios and production requirements, offering a practical implementation platform for outstanding R&D results. This synergy is fostering ecosystem-wide transformation within the industry and realising a more effective public housing supply.

Witnessed by Ms Ho; Professor Sun; the Under Secretary for Housing, Mr Victor Tai; and the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of NAMI, Professor Cheng Shuk-han, the MOU was signed by the Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing, Miss Charmaine Lee, and the Chief Executive Officer of NAMI, Mr Andy Fung. The first batch of research technologies includes further enhancements to the MiSmartLink, the development of composite sealing rolls, and advanced concrete materials and soundproof materials, which will help public housing achieve goals of enhancing speed, quantity, quality, and efficiency.

The collaboration will establish a complete intellectual property management mechanism, allowing research results to gain patent protection and create revenue through technology licensing and commercialisation. A portion of the revenue will be reinvested into a new round of research and development, forming a sustainable development model that injects continuous momentum into the innovation and technology ecosystem.