The UK has changed the name of its representative office in Taiwan from the British Trade and Cultural Office to the British Office to better reflect its services.
“This is purely a change of title. It is not a change of functions,” UK Representative to Taiwan Chris Wood said yesterday.
The name change took effect on Tuesday, he said, describing it as “a rebranding.”
“We felt that the old name, the British Trade and Cultural Office, did not adequately describe what we do,” Wood said.
He said that people did not really understand what the name meant and often did not recognize the agency as a government office.
“The British Office better reflects the full scope of our work,” which ranges from providing services to British citizens in Taiwan to facilitating cooperation in science and innovation, combating climate change, supporting UK trade with Taiwan and encouraging Taiwanese investment in the UK, Wood said.
The renaming can be seen as a positive development in Taiwan-UK, relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The two nations are to continue to cooperate in various fields based on a solid foundation, the ministry said in a statement yesterday.
Wood said that the outcome of UK general elections earlier this month is not likely to result “in any change in the UK’s long-standing policy toward Taiwan.”
“We now have a majority Conservative government with many ministers reappointed to their previous positions,” he said.
The UK government’s key priorities remain as before — stimulating the British economy and boosting UK trade and exports, Wood said.
Taiwan and the UK have been forging stronger economic links and deepening cooperation on climate change and technology, he said.
He added that there has been an increase in the frequency of visits by senior British officials and members of parliament to Taiwan.
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