The Swedish parliament on Thursday voted 205 to 80, with 64 abstentions, in favor of establishing a “House of Sweden” in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
The Riksdag praised the good economic and trade relationship between Sweden and Taiwan, and said that it hopes to make Sweden’s presence in Taiwan more prominent, the ministry said.
It also thanked the Riksdag for taking concrete actions to demonstrate its dedication to the bilateral relationship, and expressed its confidence that the Swedish government would respond positively to the call.
Photo: CNA
The vote was the latest example of the Swedish parliament’s continued support for Taiwan, following a visit earlier this month by a delegation of parliamentarians, the ministry said.
Upon returning to Sweden, the delegation asked Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ann Linde to reiterate the government’s concern about peace and security across the Taiwan Strait, and to repeat its support for Taiwan’s participation in the WHO, the ministry said.
The motion to establish a House of Sweden in Taiwan was proposed by several parliamentarians who are friendly to Taiwan, including Swedish Deputy Speaker Kerstin Lundgren, who said that apart from the economy and trade, the two countries should work to bolster their political relationship, it said.
The ministry said that support for Taiwan has become well established in the Riksdag, as a majority of members from across party lines voted in favor of the motion.
As authoritarian regimes are expanding and disrupting international order, it is even more crucial for Taiwan and Sweden to jointly safeguard their shared values for free societies, it said, adding that Taiwan would continue to deepen its relationship with Sweden.
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
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19