A decision to change the official name of Netherlands Trade and Investment Office in Taipei to Netherlands Office Taipei taken by Taiwan’s like-minded European partner was welcomed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs April 27.
Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said the move reflects strengthening of Taiwan-Netherlands relations, adding that the country looks forward to further expanding exchanges across the board including on deepening cooperation to combat coronavirus.
Wu made the remarks while receiving NOT head Guy Wittich at MOFA headquarters in Taipei City to mark the Netherlands’ King’s Day national holiday.
A gift of tulips, the national flower of the Netherlands, was also presented by Wittich to Wu in appreciation for Taiwan’s donation of surgical masks earlier this month to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the MOFA, Taiwan and the Netherlands have worked together on various initiatives in recent months. Examples include a reciprocal working holiday agreement effective April 1 and a visit by Dutch lawmakers and think tankers last October.
The Netherlands has been the single biggest source of foreign direct investment to Taiwan every year since 2016 and is the country’s second-largest trading partner in Europe, with yearly trade values surpassing NT$10 billion (US$0.33 billion). (YCH-E)
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