TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan-Philippines Smart Port Forum will be held next month to deepen links between Kaohsiung Port and Subic Bay Port and lay groundwork for an economic corridor, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Lien Yu-ping (連玉蘋), head of the ministry’s Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs, said the forum will cover smart cities, unmanned surface vessels, and smart port technologies. More than 30 Philippine government and industry representatives are expected to attend.

Lien said the two ports could strengthen cooperation in smart port integration to boost efficiency and serve as a model for a Taiwan–Philippines economic corridor. Taiwan is willing to work with the US and Japan in line with their Luzon Economic Corridor initiative. She added that Taiwan plans to promote smart agriculture zones and farmer exchanges in the Philippines as part of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project.

Lien said Taiwan and the Philippines are like-minded partners within the first island chain. She welcomed Manila’s recent decisions to lift restrictions on official visits to Taiwan and grant visa-free entry to Taiwanese travelers, calling it a sign of warming bilateral ties.