The Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club will host a briefing and discussion with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung and International Cooperation and Development Fund Secretary General Huang Yu-Lin on June 17.
Taiwan’s national aid agency, the International Cooperation and Development Fund which is also known by its abbreviation TaiwanICDF, was established in 1996 and marks its 30th anniversary this year.
Prior registration is necessary: https://forms.gle/Y27C9K4xofiiHbUG7
EVENT SUMMARY
The global humanitarian and development system finds itself at a historic crossroads. From deepening geopolitical tensions and climate-related disasters to growing food insecurity and sweeping cuts to international assistance budgets, the institutions that underpin global aid are facing unprecedented pressure.
Against this backdrop, TFCC’s briefing with Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung and ICDF Secretary General Huang Yu-Lin will explore Taiwan’s evolving role as a contributor to international development and humanitarian assistance. The discussion will also examine the geopolitical dimensions of Taiwan’s development assistance, including how aid has become intertwined with questions of diplomacy, economic growth, international visibility, resilience, and soft power.
Minister Lin and Secretary General Huang will deliver opening remarks, followed by a Q&A session. The conversation will be moderated by TFCC Chair and Nikkei Asia correspondent Thompson Chau.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: June 17 (Wednesday)
Time: 3pm-4.30pm (doors open at 2.30pm; please arrive before 2.50pm)
Venue: To be sent to attendees nearer in time
Language: Mandarin Chinese with simultaneous English interpretation
Rules: On the record; TFCC members only; only Correspondent Members will be allowed to ask questions
RSVP: https://forms.gle/Y27C9K4xofiiHbUG7
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Lin Chia-Lung serves as Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF). He is also Vice Chair of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. Previously, he served as Secretary General to the President, Ambassador-at-Large, Minister of Transportation and Communications, and Mayor of Taichung City. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University and earned master’s degrees from both National Taiwan University and Yale.
Huang Yu-Lin has served as Secretary General of TaiwanICDF since October 2024. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Throughout his career, he has held senior positions in government, academia, and civil society, including Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications, Executive Director of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Secretary General of the Straits Exchange Foundation, and Director General of Taichung City’s Construction Bureau.