Senior advisor to the president Lin Hsin-i (林信義) departed on Tuesday evening to represent Taiwan at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru. As President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) envoy, Lin emphasized Taiwan's crucial role in regional economic prosperity before his departure.
This marks the former economics minister and deputy premier’s second appearance at APEC following a 19-year hiatus. Lin’s participation is garnering attention due to the potential to interact with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and other economic leaders. Lin made headlines in 2005 when he exchanged a brief handshake with Hu Jintao (胡锦涛), the Chinese President at the time, at the APEC summit in Busan, South Korea.
At the airport, Lin expressed confidence in Taiwan’s preparation for the summit, highlighting the collaborative efforts between various government departments and the business sector throughout the year. He said Taiwan is ready to contribute meaningfully to the summit’s agenda, including digital transformation, green initiatives, food security, and enhancing small and medium enterprises' competitiveness.
Lin particularly emphasized Taiwan’s expertise in digital healthcare, agriculture, and small business development. He says that Taiwan remains an indispensable force for regional economic stability and prosperity, pledging to showcase the nation’s achievements and potential future contributions to fellow APEC members.