A delegation comprising members of the U.K.’s House of Commons arrived in Taiwan March 19 for a six-day visit at the invitation of the government, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Headed by Bob Stewart, chair of the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group, the delegation includes MPs Rob Butler, Sarah Atherton, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Afzal Khan and Marie Rimmer.
MOFA said that the MPs’ presence is sincerely welcomed by the government and people. This is the second delegation from the House of Commons to visit Taiwan since last November’s Foreign Affairs Committee visit.
In addition to meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, the group has appointments with Premier Chen Chien-jen and National Security Council secretary-general Wellington Koo, as well as banquets hosted by Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun and Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu.
The parliamentarians will also call on the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Mainland Affairs Council and key cultural and economic facilities. The MPs will have exchanges with officials, law makers and experts on issues pertaining to bilateral relations, economic resilience and regional development.
According to the MOFA, Stewart took over as chair of the British-Taiwanese All-Parliamentary Group in 2021, since when he has been a constructive advocate for deepening ties.
Stewart initiated a resolution on expanding cooperation and relationships with Taiwan in February 2021, the MOFA said, adding that he also penned letters to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Ministry of Defense and all members of Parliament, calling on them to support Taiwan.
As a responsible stakeholder in the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan will continue working with like-minded partners like the U.K. to strengthen global democratic resilience, promote cooperation and exchange across a broad spectrum of areas and safeguard peace, prosperity, stability and sustainable development in the region, the ministry said. (SFC-E)
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