President Lai Ching-te received a delegation led by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs at the Presidential Office March 18 in Taipei City, pledging to deepen bilateral partnership with the U.S. state for mutual benefit.
The Taiwan-Arizona relationship is going from strength to strength, Lai said, citing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s recent decision to increase the US$65 billion investment in the U.S. to US$165 billion to establish more semiconductor manufacturing and R&D facilities in Phoenix.
The president further took the opportunity to thank Hobbs for taking care of the over 30,000 Taiwan expatriates and businesses based in the state, adding that he believes Arizona is set to be the best demonstration site for Taiwan-U.S. high-tech cooperation and the creation of non-red supply chains through joint work by the two sides’ public and private sectors.
According to Lai, Taiwan and Arizona enjoy close economic ties. Taiwan is Arizona’s 8th largest export destination and 5th largest source of imports, the president said, adding that the first agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade entering into force last December further cemented their trade bonds.
Lai concluded by expressing hope that a Taiwan-U.S. double taxation avoidance agreement would be signed, which would encourage more local enterprises to increase investment and set up industrial clusters in the U.S.
In response, Hobbs said Taiwan and Arizona have close collaboration in areas spanning cultural exchange, personnel cultivation and technology. The state is also committed to working with Taiwan businesses like TSMC in the semiconductor and other industries, the governor noted, adding that TSMC’s US$165 billion investment in the state will help promote the development of the world’s most advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, while solidifying strong friendship between the two sides. (YCH-E)
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