A 2-day international workshop on maritime disaster measures began in Taiwan on Wednesday. The Global Cooperation and Training Framework’s (GCTF) workshop is a collaboration between the Foreign Ministry, the Ocean Affairs Council, and the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction as well as agencies from the United States, Japan, and Australia. The workshop was also held in collaboration with the Embassy of St. Lucia in Taiwan.
The Foreign Ministry says the event continues the theme of sustainable oceans featured at the GCTF held in Tokyo in 2022, exploring maritime disasters caused by natural and man-made factors. It says this workshop showcases Taiwan's efforts to cooperate with GCTF partner countries to promote sustainability and protect the marine environment.
Around 80 foreign scholars, maritime officials, and experts attended the opening ceremony. Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association representative Hiroyasu Izumi, and St. Lucia Ambassador to Taiwan Robert Lewis gave opening remarks.
The event will also feature a visit to see one of the Taiwan Coast Guard’s Chiayi-class patrol vessels, as well as a visit to the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology in Keelung. The ministry says the trips are aimed at enhancing the participants' understanding of Taiwan's maritime affairs.
The GCTF was established in 2015 and claims to have organized 64 training activities with experts and officials from almost 130 countries. The ministry says it has become an important platform for cooperation between Taiwan, the U.S., Japan, and Australia.