John Deng (鄧振中)/CNA file photo

Taipei, July 1 (CNA) Taiwan is in talks with the Philippines over a plan to help train firefighters from the Southeast Asian country at the National Fire Agency's training center in the central county of Nantou, John Deng (鄧振中), Taiwan's top trade negotiator and a minister without portfolio, said Sunday.

The plan is part of the government's efforts to promote cooperation in disaster relief training with countries targeted by Taiwan's New Southbound Policy (NSP), while boosting exports of disaster relief equipment to those countries, according to Deng.

The Nantou training center covers an area of 109 hectares, housing buildings, a factory and boats used for disaster simulation drills, Deng said.

According to Deng, Taiwan has offered annual fire training support for the Taiwanese compatriot community in the Philippines for more than a decade. It was decided to extend the training assistance to professional Filipino firefighters after their representatives recently expressed interest during a visit to the Nantou training center.

Taiwan has trained Taiwanese volunteer firefighters in the Philippines over the past 10 years because fire departments in the Philippines are often slow to respond, according to Overseas Community Affairs Council Minister Wu Hsin-shing (吳新興).

Taiwanese groups in the Philippines have their own firefighting teams and usually pay and commission Taiwan fire departments to help train volunteer firefighters, Wu said, adding that for instance, a team of 30 Taiwanese volunteer firemen just completed their training in May.

If the program goes smoothly, the government will negotiate with NSP target countries over cooperation on similar fire service training programs which is also expected to boost exports of Taiwan's firefighting equipment, such as firefighting clothing, fire extinguishers and fire hoses as well as fire alarm equipment, to those countries, Deng added.

Initiated by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the New Southbound Policy seeks to strengthen relations with Southeast and South Asian nations, Australia and New Zealand.



(By Ku Chuan and Evelyn Kao)
Enditem/AW