| Taiwan Times Central News Agency 2009-09-17 12:05PM |
| Taiwan to expand technological cooperation to Phils Weather radar system will be installed in Batanes Island Group ___________________ |
| BATANES ISLAND GROUP |
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| MANILA, Philippines: Sept. 17 (CNA) Taiwan and the Philippines are expected to engage in a series of cooperation projects to enhance bilateral technological exchanges, especially in the area of weather observation, according to a plan mapped out recently by the two sides. The plan was finalized at the second technology ministers' meeting between the two countries held in Manila Wednesday. Under the plan, Taiwan will assist the Philippines with research in areas such as bio-agriculture and corral reef inspection, strengthen academic and science exchanges, and increase talent training between the two sides. _________________________________________ _________________________________________ In terms of weather observation, Taiwan will help the Philippines set up automatic weather stations and acquire weather radar or global positioning system (GPS). The two countries will also share typhoon and precipitation data. In particular, a weather radar system or GPS will be installed in the Philippines' northernmost island groups of Batanes. These projects will mark a step forward in bilateral cooperation in weather observation, after Taiwan donated US$170,000 to the Philippines in 2007 to renovate a weather station located in a mountainous area in the northern Philippines. Lee Lou-chuang, Minister of Taiwan's National Science Council, who attended Wednesday's meeting on behalf of Taiwan, said the cooperation is very meaningful given the fact that every year, approximately one third of the typhoons that hit Taiwan are formed in the Philippines' territory. The sharing of typhoon data will help Taiwan more accurately predict the movement of storms and take proper precautions, Lee said. (By Emerson T Lim and Y.F. Low) |