Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers launched two new parliamentary friendship organizations yesterday aimed at promoting bilateral ties with Belgium and Slovenia.
Pingtung County DPP Legislator Chung Chia-Pin (鍾佳濱) led the preparatory work and was named chairman of both the Taiwan-Belgium Congressional Association and the Taiwan-Slovenia Congressional Association.
“We can develop more active interactions with our parliamentary counterparts in Belgium and Slovenia to enhance commerce and business investment.” Chung said. “The organizations can also expand foreign relations with European countries and support President Tsai Ing-wen’s [蔡英文] new efforts on international diplomacy.”
Legislative Speaker Su Chia-chuan (蘇嘉全) is to serve as honorary chairman of both organizations, which are mostly made up of DPP members, with the addition of New Power Party legislators Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) and Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明).
European Economic and Trade Office Head Madeleine Majorenko also attended the event.
In his address, Belgian Representative to Taiwan Rik van Droogenbroeck said that a delegation of Belgian government officials and parliamentarians visited Taiwan earlier this year, and that frequency of official Belgium visits has increased in recent years, as officials have been impressed with Taiwan’s social and political developments toward a free democratic system.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Chih-chung (吳志中) said that he would consider promoting soccer diplomacy to broaden Taiwan’s international friendship and sporting links, as Belgium are among the favorites for Euro 2016, which starts next month, and Belgian-Taiwanese player Xavier Chen (陳昌源) is a popular figure, who many think should captain the Taiwan national team.
With regards to Slovenia, Chung said that many Taiwanese companies are interested in exploring business opportunities and developing bilateral trade with the country.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
UNKNOWN TRAJECTORY: The storm could move in four possible directions, with the fourth option considered the most threatening to Taiwan, meteorologist Lin De-en said A soon-to-be-formed tropical storm east of the Philippines could begin affecting Taiwan on Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The storm, to be named Fung-wong (鳳凰), is forecast to approach Taiwan on Tuesday next week and could begin affecting the weather in Taiwan on Wednesday, CWA forecaster Huang En-hung (黃恩鴻) said, adding that its impact might be amplified by the combined effect with the northeast monsoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the system’s center was 2,800km southeast of Oluanbi (鵝鑾鼻). It was moving northwest at 18kph. Meteorologist Lin De-en (林得恩) on Facebook yesterday wrote that the would-be storm is surrounded by
RSS