After taking office, Foreign Minister Lin Jialong actively promoted Rongbang diplomacy and compiled a budget of more than 370 million yuan for the Rongbang Plan for the first time in 2015. However, the budget for 2016 was slashed by nearly 300 million yuan. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the main reason is that the funds required for early planning and mechanism establishment this year are relatively high, and due to the late completion of legal procedures for this year's general budget, some projects are still in the negotiation and planning stage, and relevant funds will be retained until 2016 for continued implementation in accordance with regulations.
In order to use my country's advantageous industries to implement the prosperity plan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has compiled a budget of NT$374.6 million for the first time in the 2015 budget, including NT$289.6 million in commission fees and NT$85 million in donations to domestic groups.
However, in the 2016 budget bill that was just submitted to the Legislative Yuan, the budget for utilizing my country's advantageous industries to implement the Rongbang Plan was reduced to only 78.1 million yuan, including 66.1 million yuan in commission fees and 12 million yuan in donations to domestic groups.
In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the budget of the Rongbang Project in 2016 was lower than that in 2015, mainly because the year 2015 was the launch of the Rongbang Project and the establishment of related mechanisms. The funds required for early planning and mechanism construction were relatively high; as various mechanisms are gradually completed, subsequent funding needs will also be adjusted in line with the actual promotion situation.
In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that due to the late completion of legal procedures for the 2015 general budget, according to the relevant provisions of the Budget Law, emerging projects cannot be implemented before the budget is passed. As a result, some projects are still in the negotiation and planning stage, and relevant funds will be retained until 2016 for continued implementation in accordance with regulations. Therefore, the 2016 budget is compiled based on the verification progress of various projects and actual needs. Although the budget size is smaller than that of 2015, it does not mean a reduction in the promotion capacity of the Rongbang Project.
In addition to using my country's advantageous industries to implement the Rongbang Plan budget, the Rongbang-related budget in the 2016 budget also includes 4.84184 billion yuan in funds to promote eight major Rongbang projects in Pacific allies and friendly countries; 4.872452 billion yuan to promote the Rongbang Plan and assist the basic livelihood construction and technology of all friendly countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. NT$715.576 million for Taiwan Scholarships, Taiwan Grants, and Youth from Diplomatic Countries to Come to Taiwan to Realize their Dreams; NT$424.82 million for the Program to Promote my country’s Cooperation with Friendly Countries in Asia and Africa, Scholarship Program for Friendly Countries in Asia and Africa, and Assistance to Africa’s Sustainable Development, Topland and Rongbang Programs, etc.
