TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwanese government has donated NT$2 million (US$65,000) to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to demonstrate its commitment to the organization and continue assisting other APEC members in capacity building, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

Taiwan’s senior APEC official, Sun Chien-yuan (孫儉元), signed a donation memorandum of understanding with APEC Secretary-General Eduardo Pedrosa on Thursday during an APEC meeting in China, per the foreign ministry. Sun said Taiwan has been a constructive member of APEC since joining in 1991 and has consistently contributed to the organization through donations and hosting events. He added that Taiwan will continue to cooperate with other APEC members to promote regional prosperity.

Pedrosa said Taiwan’s donation and participation help the APEC secretariat carry out its work smoothly and are crucial for capacity building.

The donation will support the APEC Human Security Sub-Fund, which Taiwan advocated establishing 20 years ago, and the Women and the Economy Sub-Fund, set up 10 years ago in cooperation with the US and Australia, according to the foreign ministry. It will also fund the Policy Support Unit to strengthen APEC’s policy research and analytical capabilities.