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.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today said that if South Korea does not reply appropriately to its request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, it would take corresponding measures to alter how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. The ministry said that it changed the nationality for South Koreans on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificates from “Korea” to “South Korea” on March 1, in a gesture of goodwill and based on the
Taiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the US before being delivered to Taiwan, the
The New Taipei Metro's Sanyin Line and the eastern extension of the Taipei Metro's Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red Line) are scheduled to begin operations in June, the National Development Council said today. The Red Line, which terminates at Xiangshan Station, would be connected by the 1.4km extension to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, while the Sanyin Line would link New Taipei City's Tucheng and Yingge stations via Sanxia District (三峽). The council gave the updates at a council meeting reviewing progress on public construction projects for this year. Taiwan's annual public infrastructure budget would remain at NT$800 billion (US$25.08 billion), with NT$97.3
RSS