Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan received Olivier Cadic, vice chair of the French Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee, Sept. 18 in Taipei City, pledging to continue deepening the warm bilateral ties.
Describing Cadic as a resolute friend of Taiwan, Cheng thanked the senator for co-sponsoring the 2024-2030 Military Programming Law, which reiterates the French government’s commitment to defending freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
According to Cheng, Cadic’s visit follows those earlier this year by Eric Bothorel, chair of the Taiwan friendship group at the National Assembly, Alain Richard, Senate vice president, and Andre Gattolin, vice chair of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee. Such frequent parliamentarian exchanges are another salient example of the robust ties, he said.
In addition to regional security issues, Cheng said the two like-minded partners are also working closely in areas including economy and trade, high-tech industries, renewable energy and personnel cultivation and exchanges. He said examples in this regard include a 5.2 billion euro battery production plant to be set up in the northern city of Dunkirk by Taiwan-based ProLogium Technology Co. Ltd.; the planned launch of Taiwan’s Wind-Hunter satellite next month in French Guiana via the Vega rocket operated by France-based Arianespace; and the Lycee International de Taipei inaugurated last year to provide education in Mandarin, French and English.
It is anticipated that the vice chair will continue to exercise influence and canvas further support for Taiwan in the Senate, as well as continued cooperation in key areas, Cheng said. (SFC-E)
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