A new association boosting parliamentary exchanges between Taiwan and Canada was formed yesterday by more than 60 legislators from across the political spectrum.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Cheng Kuo-chung (
Cheng said it was his understanding that 109 Canadian parliamentarians had already joined the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group.
John McKay, president of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, extended his congratulations on the establishment of the parallel parliamentary group in Taiwan by video.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (
Addressing the ceremony, Lipman said Canada-Taiwan trade and economic relations have been cordial, with bilateral trade volume growing continuously.
Bilateral exchanges in other fields have also been growing steadily, Lipman said, adding that three Canadian parliamentary delegations have visited Taiwan over the past year.
He said the establishment of the Taiwan-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Association is of great significance in the development of relations between the two countries.
Kau said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will offer full support to the new parliamentary amity group as it marks an important step in promoting bilateral relations.
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, Kau said, Taiwan-Canada relations were close.
Taiwanese citizens make an average of 150,000 visits to Canada annually, making Taiwan Canada's seventh-largest source of tourist arrivals.
The number of Taiwanese expatriates in Canada, including those undertaking advanced study there, has also been rising steadily, said Kau.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
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