Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said Sept. 30 that Taiwan is committed to deepening partnerships with the U.K. and Austria and jointly promoting freedom, democracy and prosperity.
Hsiao made the remarks while meeting with delegations led by Andrew Griffith, British shadow secretary of state for business and trade, and Werner Amon, chair of the Austrian Parliament’s Austria-Taiwan Friendship Group, at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
The economic and trade relationship between Taiwan and the U.K. is going from strength to strength, as evidenced by the signing of the Enhanced Trade Partnership arrangement in 2023, Hsiao said. The U.K. is Taiwan’s third-largest foreign investment destination in Europe, she noted, adding that she looks forward to further potential cooperation in areas spanning artificial intelligence, digital trade, technology and space.
The vice president took the opportunity to thank the U.K. for supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Health Organization and expressed gratitude to British parliamentarians for opposing China’s distortion of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758. The U.K. government’s stress on the importance of cross-strait peace and stability at global events like the Group of Seven summit is also deeply appreciated, she said.
According to Hsiao, Taiwan is facing compound threats from China, including cognitive warfare and military exercises in waters and airspace surrounding the country. She expressed her hope of strengthening security collaboration with the U.K. and concluded by praising bilateral cultural and educational exchanges, particularly between the two sides’ younger generations.
The vice president lauded the staunch relations with Austria in the fields of culture, economy and trade during her meeting with the Austrian delegation. The two countries have complementary industries, she said, adding that she looks forward to seeing the bilateral relationship continue to grow. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw