Vice President Lai Ching-te received a delegation from the Portuguese Assembly of the Republic at the Presidential Office April 17 in Taipei City, pledging to deepen bilateral ties with the EU member state on all fronts.
The group is led by Paulo Rios de Oliveira, head of the parliamentary Taiwan friendship group, and comprises MPs Vera Braz, Joao Moura, Joao Azevedo Castro, Helga Correia, Norberto Patinho and Carlos Eduardo Reis.
The VP said the in-person visit carries special significance at a time when Taiwan has re-opened its borders and there is cross-strait instability.
According to Lai, Taiwan and Portugal share similar historical developments as both transitioned from authoritarian rule to democracy. The government hopes to expand cooperation with the EU member state on key areas such as economy and security to benefit both countries, he added.
The VP took the opportunity to thank Oliveira for his long-standing support for Taiwan, citing his participation in an event organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Portugal in February this year for the Formosa Club.
In response, Oliveira said it is a great pleasure to visit Taiwan, dubbed Ilha Formosa by Portuguese sailors five centuries ago. The historic link adds to strong support from him and his fellow parliamentarians, he added.
Despite their vast geographic distance, Taiwan and Portugal share the same values of freedom, democracy, peace and respect for human rights, he said, adding that Portugal stands ready whenever Taiwan needs a friend. (SFC-E)
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