Representative Jenny Bloomfield End of Year Message
30 December 2022
Full Transcript (English translation)
Nga'ayho! (Greetings in Taiwan Indigenous Amis language)
As is customary in Australia, I would first like to acknowledge Australia’s and Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and future.
At the end of my second year as Australia’s Representative, I thank all our partners for your contribution to further strengthening the Australia-Taiwan relationship.
We supported each other through the COVID transition and deepened our health and biotech partnership, including hosting the Australia-Taiwan Biotech Collaboration Forum.
Australia and Taiwan are close energy partners. We hosted the Australia-Taiwan Hydrogen Technology and Investment Conference, and welcomed a Taiwanese business mission to Australia to look at concrete hydrogen partnership opportunities. We also supported significant new offshore wind, solar and other green energy investments.
We shared lessons on supply chain resilience and pension reform and asset management. We held food and wine showcases and deepened our longstanding food and agricultural partnership.
We launched a new English Language Learning Partnership and Action Plan, hosted our Study Australia Expo and deepened our education, VET, youth links and science and technology cooperation, including promoting women in STEM.
We shared experiences at the Semi Taiwan Sustainability Forum; the Women in Semiconductors Workshop; the Safe Work, Safe Workplace, Safe Labour conference; smart cities and net zero events; and the International Police Cooperation Forum.
We co-hosted six Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) forums as a full partner on common challenges such as law enforcement, sustainable oceans, smart agriculture and ending gender-based violence. We hosted our annual IWD celebrations, promoted gender equality and human rights cooperation; joined the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA), working together to promote Indigenous rights and economic opportunities; and we attended Taiwan Pride, supporting human rights, diversity, dignity and respect for all.
We celebrated our Indigenous, arts and cultural links at the Tainan Museum of Archaeology’s incredible ‘First Wave: Australia-Taiwan Indigenous Fashion Exhibition”. We showcased Australia-Taiwan Friendship through our ’40 Years, 40 Stories’ and launched the Australia-Taiwan Friendship Year - Arts Exchange Partnership.
Australia and Taiwan share rich Indigenous histories, open, diverse societies, and an interest in an open, inclusive, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Our trade and economic relationship is at a historic high, and I thank our bilateral councils, industry associations and business partners for their strong contribution.
I am also pleased to have had the opportunity to learn more about Taiwan, its history and culture, beautiful landscapes, and to experience the warmth, friendship and support of the Taiwanese people and their commitment to their democracy.
As we look to 2023, I look forward to continuing to work with all of you to deepen partnerships, strengthen links, and identify concrete opportunities to enhance cooperation across the breath of our relationship.
Doing so makes both of us stronger and more prosperous.
(In Taiwanese) We are closest friends. I look forward to working with all of you to deepen our relationship. Thank you.