Taiwan labor minister's APEC visit to China went smoothly: Labor ministry

Taipei, Sept. 21 (CNA) Taiwan Labor Minister Hung Sun-han's (洪申翰) participation in an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting in China went "smoothly" on Monday, with China following APEC practices and rules, according to the Ministry of Labor (MOL).

"Hung and his delegation's participation proceeded smoothly, and the Chinese side made relevant arrangements in accordance with APEC practices and rules," the ministry said in a statement Monday evening.

Hung attended the eighth APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting, a one-day meeting held Monday in Nanjing, after arriving in the Chinese city on Sunday.

The trip made Hung the first ministry head to travel to China since President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) administration took office in May 2024, marking a rare cross-strait visit by a Cabinet-level official from the ruling, independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Photos provided by the MOL showed Hung seated behind a nameplate reading "Chinese Taipei," the name under which Taiwan participates in APEC, one of the few major international forums in which it is a formal member.

During the meeting, Hung said workers' rights and social protections should keep pace with changes in labor markets, demographics and technology. He called for more flexible work arrangements for workers raising children and stronger protections for platform workers.

On artificial intelligence (AI), Hung called for guidelines and risk-management rules to promote "responsible AI" and "human-centered" governance to prevent workers' rights from being undermined, according to the MOL statement.

"Technological innovation can bring new opportunities, but social protections for workers should also be improved accordingly," he said, adding that technological development and labor rights should advance together.

The MOL said Hung also learned from other APEC economies during formal sessions and informal exchanges, while interactions with other APEC economies created opportunities for further cooperation.

Hung served as a DPP lawmaker before becoming labor minister in November 2024. During his time in the Legislature, he spoke out on human rights and political issues concerning Hong Kong and Tibet, both sensitive subjects for Beijing.

Asked on Sept. 15 about possible security risks ahead of the trip, Hung did not say whether he was concerned about being unable to return to Taiwan. Instead, he reiterated that he would attend the meeting in accordance with "established APEC practice" and on the basis of "reciprocal dignity."

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council deputy head and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said on Sept. 3 that the risks associated with Hung's trip were "controllable," citing the smooth participation of Taiwanese officials in APEC meetings in China earlier this year.

Among them was Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮), then minister without portfolio and Taiwan's trade representative, who led a delegation to the APEC trade ministers' meeting in Suzhou in May without any reported incidents.

Hung is expected to return to Taiwan no later than Thursday, when the Minimum Wage Deliberation Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss next year's minimum wage level.