Tsai Ing-wen joins Hillary Clinton at Global Women Leaders Summit in Italy

Taipei, June 27 (CNA) Former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said on Saturday she had attended the Global Women Leaders Summit in Italy this week, sharing a photo on social media of herself with former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, among others.

Neither Tsai nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had previously disclosed the trip.

Tsai was invited by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) to attend the Global Women Leaders Summit in Italy from June 22-25, MOFA said in a news release.

During her stay, Tsai also met with Italian lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, think tank scholars, and Taiwanese students studying in Italy, according to MOFA.

In her post, Tsai said she exchanged views on AI, digital technology, climate change, and the international order with female global leaders, emphasizing the need for cross-border and intergenerational cooperation to address global challenges.

The former president (2016-2024) said that she cherished the opportunity to engage with international partners and bring Taiwan's perspective to the global dialogue.

"Despite the complex international situation we face, we remain confident that the power of democracy, technology, and civil society can jointly create a safer, more trustworthy digital future that better serves the public interest," she said.

The Global Women Leaders Summit was chaired by Hillary Rodham Clinton and featured high-profile attendees, including former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, as shown in a photo released by the GIWPS.

Since leaving office, Tsai has visited several European countries, including the Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Lithuania, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

She is scheduled to return to Taiwan on Saturday, according to a source.