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Californian delegation visits to strengthen ties

A visiting delegation comprising five California State Assembly members led by assistant speaker Leland Yee (余胤良) arrived in Taiwan on Sunday on the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

The delegation is scheduled to leave on Saturday.

MOFA hosted a banquet for the delegation yesterday in the Grand Formosa Regent Hotel (晶華酒店) before the delegation visited the Presidential Office, the Department of Health, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Taipei City Government.

The main purpose of the delegation's visit is to establish a closer relationship and strengthen collaboration in trade, economics, art and education between the State of California and Taipei City, Yee said when received by Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) at Taipei City Hall.

"We hope that we can retain the California Trade Investment Office in Taiwan even though the California state budget was cut and 12 foreign trade offices in other countries will possibly be closed," Yee said. "We want to strengthen our relationship with Taipei, a city with active economic and trade activities."

"It has been almost three years since California sent a delegation to Taiwan," said Tsao Wen-chieh (曹文杰), the secretary of MOFA's Department of North American Affairs. "The delegation visited to promote amity between Taiwan and the state."

Yee spoke on May 19 in the California State Assembly in support of Taiwan's efforts to participate in the World Health Origination (WHO), and the California State Assembly passed Assembly Joint Resolution No. 33 that urged US President George W. Bush and Congress to support all efforts made by Taiwan to gain meaningful participation in the WHO.

"I think Taiwan's participation in the WHO was a politically motivated issue. But the assembly supported Taiwan to join the organization out of humanitarian concerns," Yee said.

"With the trend of globalization, I think we should look after each other's health, including the health of the Taiwanese," said Lou Correa, a member off the California Assembly. "I am very impressed by Taipei City's progress. It's very clean, friendly and progressive," he said.

Cindy Montaner, also a member of the California State Assembly, had some positive things to say about Taiwan.

"I think Taiwan's experience with SARS demonstrates that Taiwan has a strong health care system," Montaner said.
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