The U.S. and Taiwan formally signed a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement this week, the first concrete outcome under the U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue since the two sides held their first meeting last month, which the State Department called a “significant achievement.
On Monday (December 14), AIT Executive Director Ingrid Larsson and Taiwan Representative to the United States Mei-Chin Hsiao signed the agreement virtually on behalf of both governments in Washington, D.C., with U.S. and Taiwan officials witnessing the signing via video message.
A virtual signing ceremony for the U.S.-Taiwan Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement was held in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 14, 2020, EST. From top left, Taiwan’s Minister of Science and Technology Wu Cheng-chung, AIT Executive Director Lan Ying, Taiwan Representative to the U.S. Hsiao Mei-chin, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Crouch (photo by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
The U.S. side in Washington includes Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth and Energy and the Environment Keith Krach, Assistant Secretary for Asia and the Pacific David Stilwell, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jonathan Moore, and Secretary of State Science and Technology Advisor Meng Chiang. The meeting was witnessed in Taipei by Foreign Minister Wu Chiu-sup, Science and Technology Minister Wu Cheng-chung, Economic Affairs Undersecretary Chen Zhengqi, and AIT Taipei Office Director Brent Christensen.
The State Department said in a statement Friday (Dec. 18) that the U.S.-Taiwan Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation is the “culmination” of the first successful U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue held on Nov. 20. The agreement will “strengthen U.S.-Taiwan cooperation and enhance bilateral understanding of a wide range of science and technology issues,” the statement said.
The statement said the U.S. recognizes the importance of science and technology cooperation and is pleased with the success of scientific research cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan over the years. U.S.-Taiwan sustainable research will continue to flourish, and the shared bilateral commitment to the principles of openness, transparency, reciprocity and healthy competition in research integrity is the foundation for global scientific research, innovation and technology cooperation. The agreement “reaffirms that Taiwan is a trusted partner that not only shares the United States’ commitment to these important principles, but is also committed to supporting vulnerable members of the research community and adhering to the values of democracy and freedom.”
The statement said that enhanced cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan in the areas of scientific research, technology and innovation will further strengthen friendship and mutual understanding, deepen economic relations between the two sides, and contribute to global scientific and technological knowledge and help address global challenges.
On Friday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a tea party to announce the signing of the agreement, during which AIT Taipei Office Director Li Yingjie said he had served as an environmental, science and technology, and health affairs officer at the U.S. embassies in South Africa and Beijing and was very aware of the importance of this agreement to U.S.-Taiwan relations, and that while the United States and Taiwan have signed a number of memoranda of understanding on science and technology cooperation, this new agreement “will do more to significantly deepen and expand the U.S.-Taiwan science and technology partnership.”
He said this agreement provides the much-needed legal framework for both sides to further advance scientific research, unlock the potential for technological innovation, and ensure that the integrity of research and intellectual property is protected. “More importantly, this agreement also symbolizes the trust and shared values between the U.S. and Taiwan.”
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said in a statement that the science and technology cooperation agreement is the first concrete result achieved under the Taiwan-U.S. “Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue” mechanism, which was accepted by the two sides “in less than a month’s time to successfully complete the signing, fully demonstrating their close cooperation and partnership,” and that the agreement will help further cooperation and exchanges between each other in the field of science and technology.
The statement said that U.S.-Taiwan relations “continue to warm up” and have recently established many new cooperation and dialogue mechanisms on a wide range of topics, including the “U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue,” the “U.S.-Taiwan Infrastructure Finance and Market Establishment Cooperation Framework,” the “U.S.-Taiwan Education Initiative,” and the “Women’s Livelihood Bond Program,” etc. The two sides will continue to deepen their comprehensive partnership on the existing solid and sound foundation.
According to the English text released by AIT, the agreement contains 10 articles and two additional articles on intellectual property and security obligations, and is valid for a period of 10 years.
The 10 main provisions stipulate that both parties shall promote scientific research and technological cooperation and intellectual property protection between each other. The scope of cooperation includes basic research, applied research, innovation, engineering, social sciences, public health, higher education, and scientific human resources; the two sides may organize joint activities and joint research programs, surveys, scientific courses, seminars, and exchanges of scientific and technical experts and other personnel, meetings and talks.
In addition, under Article 7 of the Agreement, the parties may jointly invite scientists, technical experts, and institutions from third parties or international organizations through their designated representative agencies, the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan, to participate in cooperative activities held under the Agreement.
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