Trust, Resilience, and Global Integration: Priorities Set at 2026 Hsieh Nien Fan

A fixture of Taiwan’s business calendar, the Hsieh Nien Fan returned to the Taipei Marriott Hotel on March 26, drawing more than 770 members, guests, and government officials for its 58th edition — this time with a sharper focus on Taiwan’s global role.

As AmCham Taiwan marks its 75th anniversary, this year’s banquet emphasized translating long-standing cooperation into forward-looking policy action.

A central theme running through the evening’s remarks was Taiwan’s emergence as a “Global Trust Hub” for advanced technologies and resilient supply chains.

Delivering the opening remarks, AmCham Taiwan Chairperson Anita Chen said that Taiwan is “not just navigating global change — it is helping define it.” She pointed to Taiwan’s expanding role in the AI value chain and said that sustaining momentum will require progress in three areas: extending leadership in AI-driven industries, strengthening energy security through diversified international partnerships, and advancing a regulatory framework that keeps pace with digital-era innovation.

Chen emphasized that confidence in Taiwan’s economy must be matched by policy direction. Regulatory systems, she said, need to evolve alongside technological change to maintain competitiveness and attract global investment. She also highlighted the importance of a stable and predictable energy supply as a foundation for long-term growth.

Providing the evening’s keynote remarks, President Lai Ching-te framed Taiwan’s economic trajectory in terms of trust and global integration. “Today’s Taiwan is more than just a manufacturing base for chips and components,” he said. “Thanks to the trust we built from our adherence to democratic values, Taiwan has become a proactive contributor to global economic development and a co-builder of global supply chain resilience.”

Lai also highlighted the depth of U.S.-Taiwan ties, describing the relationship as extending beyond trade into investment, innovation, and shared economic security.

In his remarks, Raymond F. Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, described the current moment as a “new golden age” in U.S.-Taiwan economic relations. He highlighted rising two-way trade and investment, closer cooperation in advanced technologies, and expanding opportunities in defense industry collaboration, alongside continued U.S. support for Taiwan’s security and energy resilience.

Marking both AmCham Taiwan’s 75th anniversary and key democratic milestones in the United States and Taiwan, Greene emphasized that the relationship is grounded in shared values and positioned for further expansion.

The Chamber also received special video remarks from U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who reaffirmed bipartisan congressional support for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and highlighted ongoing efforts to establish a bilateral tax agreement, a longstanding priority for AmCham aimed at reducing costs for cross-border investment.

Beyond policy discussions, the evening incorporated elements reflecting Taiwan’s identity and innovation. Guests were presented with handcrafted Matsu Chocolate, developed in collaboration with the Taiwan Regional Revitalization Foundation, showcasing local ingredients and regional creativity.

A commemorative gift presented to President Lai and Director Greene tied together the evening’s broader theme of legacy and partnership. The piece featured an aerial image of Taiwan captured by NASA, combined with a typographic design using the numbers one through nine to form the word “Taiwan.”

Each number represented a defining aspect of Taiwan’s global standing, including its democratic system, Indigenous heritage, leadership in semiconductors and AI, strong trade relationship with the United States, and position as one of the world’s most competitive and economically resilient economies.

Across the evening’s remarks, a consistent message emerged: Taiwan’s role in the global economy is no longer defined solely by manufacturing capacity, but by trust, resilience, and its position at the center of critical technology and supply chain ecosystems.

AmCham expressed its appreciation to the more than 120 government representatives in attendance and reaffirmed its commitment to working with partners on both sides of the Pacific to translate dialogue into concrete progress. As Taiwan navigates a more complex global environment, the Chamber emphasized that sustained cooperation — supported by clear, predictable, and forward-looking policy frameworks — will be essential to maintaining momentum.

Joining President Lai were a number of high-ranking Taiwanese central and local government officials, including Secretary-General of the National Security Council Joseph Wu; Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo; Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung; Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin; Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun; Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han; Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming; Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang; Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih; Minister of Sports Lee Yang; Minister without Portfolio Wu Cheng-wen; Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung; Minister without Portfolio Yang Jen-ni; and Minister of the National Development Council Yeh Chun-hsien. Representation from local governments included Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an and Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-yen.