At the New Southbound Policy Partners International Exchange Forum on Wednesday, Taiwan’s Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) announced plans to promote regional partnerships for resource recycling with New Southbound Policy countries. At an international forum held by the Resource Circulation Administration (RECA) of the Environment Ministry, Peng emphasized that resource circulation and zero waste are key strategies for achieving Taiwan's 2050 net-zero emissions goal.
Representatives from Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia attended the forum, aiming to share experiences and address common environmental challenges through strategies such as international cooperation, talent cultivation, platform linking, and cross-domain alliances. The discussions focused on resource recycling policies, regulations, and systems in various countries.
In his speech, Peng highlighted Taiwan’s journey in waste management, from implementing extended producer responsibility in 1988 to promoting circular economy initiatives in 2016. Despite limited natural resources, Taiwan has developed advanced waste treatment and recycling technologies and facilities.
The forum particularly emphasized plastic resource recycling, exploring global circular economy trends and environmental challenges. Peng says that by sharing experiences and engaging with different countries, Taiwan can achieve breakthroughs in plastic recycling and set new standards for regional cooperation in addressing common environmental issues.