Two new groups were formed yesterday to promote parliamentary ties between Taiwan and the UK and France.
The "Taiwan-Britain Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association" (
"Through these associations, we hope to enhance mutual understanding as well as strengthen our bilateral parliamentary interactions with parliamentarians in UK and France," Chang said yesterday at the inauguration of the two associations.
PHOTO: LIU HSING-TEH, TAIPEI TIMES
Chang said that parliamentary diplomatic work carry out by the two groups could also help to broaden Taiwan's diplomatic circle.
"Because we [legislators] can visit countries, places and meet with certain persons in other countries that normally our national leaders are restricted from owing to Taiwan's unique situa-tion," Chang said.
The lawmaker said approximately 30 legislators from across party lines have said they would become members.
KMT Legislator Tsai Chia-fu (蔡家福) is deputy chairman for the "Taiwan-Britain Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association" while the TSU's John Wang (王政中) and PFP's Lin Teh-fu (林德福) are deputy chairmen of the "Taiwan-France Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association."
Chang, convener of the legislature's Foreign and Overseas Chi-nese Committee, said that the groups would focus on activities that serve the purpose in promoting mutual interaction between legislators in Taiwan and the two European countries.
"For example," Chang said, "we will work to coordinate Taiwanese business or cultural groups going to the UK and France for visits as well as invite influential British and French figures and parliamentarians to Taiwan to take part in seminars, public hearings to help improve general understanding and interaction."
Chang said association mem-bers are planning to travel to the UK and France during the next legislature recess in January.
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