Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said May 26 that Taiwan is committed to advancing trade partnerships with the U.K. while expanding bilateral cooperation in the artificial intelligence industry.
Hsiao made the remarks while meeting with a U.K. delegation led by Navendu Mishra, co-chair of Labour Friends of Taiwan. The rest of the group is made up of members of the House of Commons Tahir Ali, Paula Barker, Gill Furniss and Connor Naismith.
The vice president first expressed appreciation for the guests’ advocacy in Parliament for deepening the economic relationship between the two countries, along with their support of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and engagement in global public health affairs.
Hsiao thanked the former and current U.K. governments for stressing that cross-strait peace and stability is key to global prosperity, as evidenced by the remarks made at recent G7 summits as well as other high-level events. She further praised the U.K.’s upholding of free navigation in the Indo-Pacific as a demonstration of its commitment to regional peace.
Citing the Enhanced Trade Partnership Arrangement inked in 2023, the vice president described the bilateral relationship is going from strength to strength. Taiwan looks forward to working with the U.K. to promote mutual development in areas spanning digital trade, energy transition, investment and net-zero carbon emissions, she added.
Hsiao concluded by anticipating further collaboration in the AI sector on the strength of Taiwan’s AI-relevant fundamental infrastructure and technology development, as well as the U.K.’s third-largest AI market worldwide.
Other highlights of the delegation’s itinerary include a banquet hosted by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, a meeting with Legislative Yuan Vice President Johnny C. Chiang, and visits to the Executive Yuan’s Office of Trade Negotiations, Taiwan Space Agency and Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions before they depart May 30. (YCH-E)
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