By Emma Chang, Social Media Manager Hakka Association of New York
On July 9, 2024, STUF United Fund invited us to attend the 2024 STUF UN Go! Gala. It was a pleasure to meet so many incredible members and to witness Dr. Chien-Jen Chen, former President and Prime Minister of Taiwan, share his contributions to Taiwan and international affairs on stage. We were also delighted to see the stunning artwork by talented Taiwanese artist Shibao Lin. It was a wonderful evening, and we truly cherish the friendships built and appreciate everyone’s hard work in advancing efforts within the United Nations.
The next day, we participated in an inspiring forum organized by the STUF United Fund. The discussions focused on the far-reaching impact of the Ukraine war on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region, including disruptions to economic growth, healthcare, and education. The conclusion drawn was that with the intensification of geopolitical tensions, the world must be more proactive and aggressive in pushing for the achievement of SDGs. We also explored Taiwan’s outstanding efforts in providing medical aid to Ukraine, with Dr. Jung Tsai leading Taiwan’s top medical team into the country. During the forum, Dr. Tsai shared many stories and insights from the relief missions.
Moreover, we delved into the broader implications of the conflict on global stability, raising the question: “What does the return of ‘geopolitics’ mean for business?” Our takeaway is that it signals increasing uncertainty in the business environment, requiring companies to be more agile in responding to international policy changes and to actively diversify markets and supply chains to mitigate risks.
We are grateful to Alex L. J. Shyy, Deputy Secretary General of Taiwan ICDF, Liberato Bautista, President of CoNGO, Dr. Jung Tsai, Puma Shen, member of the Legislative Yuan of Taiwan, and Eric Hontz, Director of CIPE, for sharing their experiences and insights, leading us through a deep discussion. It was an honor to participate in another evening devoted to addressing global challenges and promoting international collaboration.
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