The first ever US-Taiwan Digital Economy Forum was held in Taipei Wednesday.
National Development Council Minister Woody Duh was in attendance representing Taiwan. Meanwhile, the US was represented by Dr. Vaughan Turekian, Science and Technology Adviser to the US Secretary of State.
On Wednesday, Duh said he believes that the forum will lead to closer cooperation between the digital industries of the US and Taiwan.
"I firmly believe that through the holding of this high-level policy dialogue platform, exchanges between Taiwan and the US with respect to economic development and the cross-border use of ICT technology will be substantially enhanced," said Duh, "It will also drive further bilateral digital industry cooperation, and will consolidate and expand the joint benefits received by Taiwan and the US from the development of the digital economy."
Duh said that over the past ten years, Taiwan has not only been a major producer of ICT technology, but has also become one of the most digitized areas on earth. Duh said Taiwan has achieved its high degree of digitization through large investments in the digital economy, including basic infrastructure, wireless internet service, and increasing the number of web users.
Duh said that the government’s free internet service, iTaiwan, has even featured in a piece by CNN.
Duh also said that digital technology has presented a challenge to the government’s ability to govern. He said that the government is working to adapt existing laws to the dynamics of the virtual world.