The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the European Parliament Oct. 7 for the passage of a resolution calling for swift launch of investment negotiations with Taiwan.
In the Annual Report on the Implementation of the Common Commercial Policy passed earlier the same day in Strasbourg, the EP also invited the European Commission to open a scoping exercise. The resolution will be sent to the EC for consideration.
Such staunch support from the EP for an enhanced economic and trade relationship with Taiwan is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, the MOFA said.
According to the ministry, this is the first resolution passed by the EP during the current session expressing its support for a bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan.
The MOFA also congratulated Valdis Dombrovskis, whose nomination for European Commissioner for Trade was approved the same day.
During his nomination hearing Sept. 22, the former Latvian prime minister publicly acknowledged the EU Investment Forum staged in Taipei earlier in the day. He also said the EU maintains close investment dialogue with Taiwan and is determined to deepen that connection.
The government welcomes Dombrovskis’ appointment and will continue to cooperate with the new trade commissioner and his team to facilitate signing of a BIA, the MOFA said. (SFC-E)
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