The third of four public forums concluded this weekend in the central city of Taichung, ahead of a national conference on economic affairs. One more regional meeting is scheduled for eastern Taiwan.
The purpose of the meetings is to allow the public to voice opinions ahead of the National Conference on Trade and Economics, which will take place in Taipei on July 26-28.
The government proposed the three-day conference in response to student-led protests which occupied the legislature for three weeks earlier this year. Those protests focused on a trade agreement with China.
About 120 representatives gathered for a day and a half of talks at the regional forum this weekend in Taichung. The participants forged 11 consensuses and broached another 10 issues that had widespread support. A further 25 opinions were voiced at the forum.
The focus of this weekend’s forum included strategies for Taiwan’s development in the face of globalization, and strategies for cross-strait trade and Taiwan’s participation in regional trade pacts.
One of the consensuses was that the government should offer more assistance to upgrade certain industries and make them more competitive. That would help prevent Taiwan’s further marginalization in the global economy.