Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said Taiwan highly values partnership with the European Parliament and thanked the body for passing a resolution condemning China’s misinterpretation of U.N. Resolution 2758 and continuous military provocations around Taiwan.
Hsiao made the remarks while receiving a cross-party EP delegation Oct. 29 in Taipei City. The four-member contingent—led by Michael Gahler, chair of the body’s Taiwan friendship group and one of the main advocates of the Oct. 24 motion—is visiting through Nov. 1.
In her speech, the vice president voiced appreciation to the EP for facilitating a solid bond between Taiwan and the European Union, adding that she is grateful for the EP’s warm reception during her March visit and of former President Tsai Ing-wen during her recent stop in Brussels.
Besides meeting Hsiao and Deputy Foreign Minister François Chihchung Wu, the delegation will call at the Legislative Yuan, other ministries and civil organizations to exchange views on Taiwan-EU trade relations and explore further cooperative opportunities, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A group of 10 cross-party Dutch House representatives and a Finnish Parliament delegation are also currently visiting Taiwan and were received by Wu Oct. 28 and 29, respectively, the MOFA said.
Wu expressed gratitude to the Dutch House members led by Aukje de Vries for passing a motion stating that Resolution 2758 does not exclude Taiwan from international participation, adding that the move served as an example for the EP to follow.
During Wu’s meeting with the group from Finland, he said that authoritarian expansion has escalated regional tensions and urged the lawmakers to continue advancing bilateral partnership.
In response, Finish MPs Fatim Diarra and Saku Nikkanen agreed that democracies must unite in the face of global challenges. They anticipated deepening collaboration on education, science and technology and said they hope to arrange direct flights between the two sides to further people-to-people exchanges, the MOFA added. (POC-E)
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