Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Isabel Hou led a delegation to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting held in Chengdu, China, from July 23 to 26. At the meeting, she shared Taiwan's policy achievements in areas such as digital and AI infrastructure, talent development, and open data. Deputy Minister Hou noted that promoting the development of digital and AI technologies requires collaboration among all stakeholders. As a trusted partner internationally, Taiwan looks forward to working with APEC’s member economies to deepen cooperation in the field of digital and AI in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) stated that the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting, themed “Digital and AI Technologies for Empowerment of an Asia-Pacific Community,” echoes the APEC 2026 theme “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together” and was attended by ministers and representatives from 21 member economies. The meeting adopted the Digital and AI Ministerial Statement, which focuses on five key areas: universal and meaningful digital connectivity, digital technologies and AI for economic growth, digital literacy and skills enhancement for all, trusted digital environment, and investment and open source for digital ecosystem.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Hou introduced Taiwan's specific practices to the participating member economies regarding the three main topics of the conference. In terms of promoting the development of digital and AI technologies, Taiwan places emphasis on “trust,” as it is the foundation of sustainable development. Focusing on the consent of data subjects and the protection of privacy, MODA's Taiwan Digital Identity Wallet (TW DIW) project adopts international standards and the principle of least privilege (PoLP) to rebuild digital trust. In terms of strengthening universal and meaningful digital connectivity, policies and funding mechanisms are deployed to encourage telecommunications operators to extend broadband networks to remote areas, achieve universal internet access, and lay the foundation for further development of AI services. In terms of promoting digital inclusion and enhancing digital skills, MODA provides computing power for startups and SMEs, and collaborates with universities of science and technology, local information service providers and multinational corporations to cultivate AI talent in the eastern region and outlying islands to achieve digital prosperity.

Deputy Minister Hou also joined representatives from various countries and industry leaders at the APEC High-Level Forum on AI, and the Data for Growth High-Level Roundtable to discuss the future challenges and cooperation directions of AI and digital development. Deputy Minister Hou pointed out that since 2012, Taiwan has been committed to promoting open government data, and has accumulated more than 50,000 datasets to date, which are provided free of charge to civil societies and businesses for the purposes of creating value and enhancing resilience.

Deputy Minister Hou expressed hope to work with APEC member economies to establish cross-system interoperability for open data, explore solutions that can both protect privacy and expand data utilization, and jointly promote interoperable digital credentials. MODA cordially invites all member economies to participate in the APEC government certificate interoperability workshop to be held in Vietnam next year, to share experiences, exchange practices, and explore future cooperation opportunities, creating a friendly environment conducive to the development of next-generation connectivity technologies and services.

MODA pointed out that Taiwan has long been actively involved in international exchanges such as the APEC’s Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TELWG) and the Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG). MODA’s attendance at the Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting marks the strength and commitment of Taiwan as a trusted partner in the digital field. MODA will continue to deepen cooperation with other member economies in digital governance and AI applications through the APEC platform, working together to create a resilient, inclusive and sustainable digital development in the Asia-Pacific region.