President Tsai Ing-wen said May 26 that Taiwan is committed to working with the EU to boost economic recovery and prevent democratic backsliding in the international community while fast-tracking negotiations of a bilateral investment agreement.
Last year saw a robust partnership between Taiwan and the EU, Tsai said, citing the country’s inclusion in the EU’s joint communication on its Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the passage of a recommendation on EU-Taiwan Political Relations and Cooperation, and the European Parliament’s common defense, foreign and security policies regarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
These are complemented by several visits of delegations from Europe in 2021 and Taiwan delegations led by Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu and the Cabinet-level National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin to European countries last October, Tsai said. A 24-member group headed by Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi is also now visiting Lithuania and Brussels, she added.
Tsai made the remarks while attending the Europe Day Dinner in Taipei City. The event involved officials from Taiwan such as the foreign minister and Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua, as well as Filip Grzegorzewski, head of the European Economic and Trade Office, and H. Henry Chang, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan.
According to Tsai, the two sides’ close engagement is built on the foundations of the Taiwan-EU Supply Chains Forum and the EU Investment Forums over the past years. It is expected that Taiwan and the EU will continue expanding collaboration in areas spanning digital economy, green energy and restructuring secure and resilient global supply chains, she said.
Taiwan’s investment in Europe is at an all-time high, Tsai said, adding that the NDC has established the Central and Eastern European Investment Fund to further promote bilateral cooperation in biotechnology, laser technology, semiconductors and other strategic industries.
It is more important than ever for Taiwan and the EU to work together in the face of challenges such as authoritarian expansion and global health threats, Tsai said. It is hoped the two sides can negotiate a BIA to ensure the relationship remains strong going forward, she added.
Tsai also took the opportunity to thank the EU and its member states for persistently advocating for Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Organization and donating COVID-19 vaccine doses last year. (YCH-E)
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