Two parliamentary associations to facilitate exchanges with lawmakers abroad were inaugurated at a ceremony at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday — the Taiwan-New Zealand Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association and the Taiwan-Four Nordic Countries Parliamentary Friendship Association.
The four Nordic countries are Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
The associations were launched by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵), who aims to enhance international diplomacy before the end of the current legislative term on Jan. 31 next year.
Photo: CNA
The associations aim to create opportunities for exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and the five countries regarding foreign affairs, economic matters, trade, culture, education and dealings with overseas Taiwanese, she said.
Lin said she would like to work with newly appointed Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Wellington Representative Joanne Ou (歐江安) to boost economic and cultural exchanges between Taiwan and New Zealand.
Department of European Affairs Director Vincent Yao (姚金祥), who is a former representative to Sweden, can provide firsthand experience and help bolster ties between Taiwan and the Nordic countries, she said.
The associations can ambitiously assist with parliamentary diplomacy, which is “the best way to let the world see Taiwan,” Legislative Yuan Secretary-General Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉) said.
Economic ties with New Zealand have been growing stronger since a free-trade agreement was signed in 2013, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary-General Tang Diann-wen (唐殿文) said, adding that the two countries are like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region,
Sweden sent a delegation to Taiwan in April last year, followed by Finland earlier this month, each showing their concern and support for Taiwan, Tang said.
New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office Director Mark Pearson said he thinks the association can help Taiwan better understand New Zealand and the relations between the two sides.
The Taiwan Friendship Group being one of the largest parliamentary groups in the Swedish Riksdag reflects “high, growing and positive interests for Taiwan,” as the two sides share values regarding democracy, human rights and the rule of law, Swedish Representative to Taiwan Anders Wollter said.
The two countries have had fruitful exchanges in business, research, student exchanges, culture and sustainability, which Nordic countries have benefited from, Wollter said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS