Deputy Foreign Minister François Chih-chung Wu hosted a reception for legislators’ advisors and staffers Aug. 19 in Taipei City as part of its European Valued Important Partnership initiative.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegates hail from Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, the U.K. and the European Parliament. They are the second EVIP group this year and will stay in Taiwan until Aug. 26.
Wu said cooperation between Taiwan and Europe is of high importance to safeguard the two sides’ mutual interests and values when facing great challenges to the international order and uncertain geopolitics. He thanked Johann Wadephul, German federal minister for foreign affairs, for recent remarks in Tokyo that condemned China’s increasing threat to regional security.
The deputy minister said MOFA welcomes recent transits of the Taiwan Strait by military vessels from France, Germany, the Netherlands and the U.K. in support of freedom of navigation, cross-strait peace and regional stability. He added that he hopes to see more European countries formulating comprehensive Indo-Pacific strategies and joining the effort to safeguard prosperity and security in the area.
In response, Daniel Burden, chair of the Conservative Friends of Taiwan group in the U.K., expressed the delegation’s eagerness to witness Taiwan’s democracy and civic society in person, as well as its diverse culture, innovative technology and prosperous economy. He also reaffirmed group members’ support for Taiwan’s right to self-determination and pledged to continuing backing bilateral and multilateral relations between Taiwan and European countries.
The group’s itinerary includes meetings with high-ranking officials of the Legislative Yuan, the Mainland Affairs Council and the National Security Council, along with attendance at a cross-strait security seminar held by The Prospect Foundation and tours to Hsinchu City in northern Taiwan and Kaohsiung City in the south, as well as the outlying Kinmen County.
Launched by the ministry in 2022, the EVIP initiative fosters closer ties with European nations by inviting European officials, parliamentarians and their advisors, and industrial experts to Taiwan. (YCH-E)
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