Michael Eitan, chairman of the Israeli-Taiwan Friendship Group in Israel's parliament, is in Taiwan at the head of a delegation for a five-day visit, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman said yesterday.
The spokesman said MOFA will confer the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy on Eitan in recognition of his contributions in promoting close bilateral relations between Taiwan and Israel.
During the visit, Eitan and his delegation will meet Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), Deputy Legislative Speaker David Chung (鍾榮吉) and National Security Council Secretary-General Mark Chen (陳唐山) to exchange views on issues concerning both countries.
The delegation, which arrived on Thursday, will also visit the National Palace Museum and other famous spots.
Taiwan and Israel set up representative offices in 1993. Since then, they have begun various cooperative projects, including in the areas of agriculture, health and technology. Many Taiwanese companies have invested in Israel.
Six Israelis are studying here under the Taiwan Scholarship program, the spokesman said, adding that Israel also offers a short-term scholarship for Taiwanese students.
The spokesman also said that Sandra Alejandrina Cuevas de Hernandez, governor of the province of Cortes in northern Honduras, will visit Taiwan from tomorrow through Friday.
Cortes Province, home to Central America's most important seaport, Port of Puerto Cortes, has become Honduras' strongest economic growth area, the MOFA spokesman said, adding that Hernandez has held important positions in the Liberal Party of Honduras and is very friendly to Taiwan.
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