President Lai Ching-te said May 21 that he hopes the U.K. will continue to support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and pledged to work with like-minded partners to jointly build more resilient global supply chains in a fair and open economic and trade order.
Lai made the remarks while meeting with Lord Faulkner, the U.K. trade envoy to Taiwan, and a delegation from the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) led by the upper house member Lord Rogan, at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
Lai first thanked the British-Taiwanese APPG for releasing a statement praising Taiwan’s democracy following the country’s presidential election in January, and Lord Rogan’s work to consolidate support for Taiwan in the U.K. The Indo-Pacific reports unveiled last year by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees, respectively, underlined the importance of cross-strait peace and are deeply appreciated, he added.
Taiwan and the U.K. signed an Enhanced Trade Partnership Arrangement last year through Lord Faulkner, Lai said, adding that the accord will facilitate bilateral cooperation in areas spanning digital trade, investment, and renewable energy and net-zero emissions.
According to Lai, the current visit demonstrates the friendship between Taiwan and the U.K., and reinforces existing solid foundations for future engagement. The president vowed to work with the U.K. to defend the universal values of freedom and democracy and jointly contribute to global prosperity and development.
In response, Lord Rogan said Taiwan has shown the world that freedom and democracy enable a country to prosper. He also assured Lai that the delegation will continue in its commitment to, and advancement of, Taiwan’s interests, both with the U.K. government and its people.
Following his remarks, Lord Faulkner said Taiwan should play a full part in the World Health Organization and praised the country’s timely response in the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Taiwan last month. As trade envoy since 2016, he added that he looks forward to trade talks scheduled later this year, and the Tech Week activities in Britain in which Taiwan will participate. (YCH-E)
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