Deputy Foreign Minister François Chih-chung Wu said the German Taiwanese Dialogue Platform would advance security and societal resilience for both parties Oct. 7 in Taipei City.
Wu made the remarks while attending a welcome reception held for GTDP attendees. He also encouraged the public to get engaged in the forum to deepen the bilateral bond through civil society connections, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry said the platform’s first meeting was held in Berlin last May. The endeavor is jointly supported by Taiwan’s MOFA and the German Federal Foreign Office.
Karsten Tietz, director general of German Institute Taipei, also spoke at the reception, emphasizing that the two sides share common values and face related challenges brought on by neighboring authoritarian regimes. He added that Germany firmly stands by Taiwan in defense of democracy and freedom.
This year’s forum was co-chaired by Lin Minn-tsong, distinguished professor in physics at National Taiwan University, and Reinhard Bütikofer, former member of European Parliament. Both Lin and Bütikofer noted that both sides had much to offer based on their experiences fighting for democracy.
The GTDP was initiated as the result of a cooperation agreement in December 2023. This year’s edition took place Oct. 8-9 and drew participants from academic, legislative and media sectors from both countries. (POC-E)
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