December 17, 2021
Joint Statement on the 2021 Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) Joint Committee Meeting
On December 17, 2021, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association (JTEA), in partnership with Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Australian Office in Taipei co-hosted the seventh Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) Joint Committee meeting. During the meeting, representatives from Japan, Taiwan, the United States and Australia reviewed this year’s GCTF activities and exchanged views on priority areas of cooperation for 2022.
The GCTF was established to provide a platform through which Taiwan could contribute to global problem solving and share its expertise with partners around the world.
Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the world, we continue to strengthen cooperation in a wide variety of fields under the GCTF. As with last year, although we were unable to invite officials, experts, and scholars from around the world to come to Taiwan, we still successfully held 13 virtual GCTF workshops with the great support of the GCTF Secretariat, a team of dedicated specialists established last year. The UK, Canada, Slovakia, and Israel also participated as guest co-hosts on different topics this year. This year, the GCTF franchise model was also launched to further expand GCTF’s footprint worldwide. The GCTF franchise model this year included three separate events in Czech Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Eswatini. The GCTF website (https://www.gctf.tw) provides more detailed information.
Next year, we plan to host GCTF workshops in the areas of law enforcement, health cooperation, sustainable oceans, gender equality, smart farming, and internet freedom and digital economy.
This year, GCTF full partners welcomed the Australian Office in Taipei as a full partner of the GCTF, following the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association’s entry in 2019. Through the GCTF, we continue to expand professional cooperation with like-minded countries.
Since the GCTF was founded on June 1, 2015, we have organized 45 international workshops with a total of 100 countries and nearly 3,500 government officials and experts participating. Over the past six years, the GCTF has grown significantly in terms of topics covered and the number of countries involved, making it a truly global platform for international cooperation. We welcome more like-minded countries to join us in expanding the scope of cooperation under the GCTF.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu
American Institute in Taiwan
Director Sandra Oudkirk
Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office
Chief Representative Hiroyasu Izumi
Australian Office in Taipei
Representative Jenny Bloomfield
