Legislators yesterday inaugurated six new associations, including parliamentary friendship groups with Turkish, European, Latin American and Austronesian legislatures.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lai Hui-yuan (賴惠員) led the effort to found the Taiwan-Turkiye Parliamentary Amity Association and is to serve as chairwoman.
The association would seek to bolster existing friendship and cooperation between the two sides, while looking to enhance tourism with more weekly direct flights, Lai told an event at the legislature in Taipei.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Turkish Representative to Taiwan Muhammed Berdibek was the guest of honor, along with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hsieh Wu-chiao (謝武樵) and six other DPP legislators, including Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑), Michelle Lin (林楚茵) and Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱).
In her address, Lai said that the two countries have long-standing collaboration in business, trade, agriculture technology and exports, reaching US$6 billion in total trade value last year.
“We look forward to expanding trade and cooperation in business, science and technology, and agriculture, as well as enhancing
tourism for more Taiwanese to visit the beautiful country of Turkey,” Lai said, adding that she plans to travel there with other legislators in July or August this year.
Berdibek welcomed the visit by legislators and all Taiwanese, saying the whole country is open for tourism.
There are four direct flights weekly between Taiwan and Istanbul, which serves as the hub to other regions of the country, he said.
“We look forward to expanding the tourism sector, but also for more trade between our countries and cooperation in other sectors,” he said.
He mentioned a number of sister-city arrangements and university science and technology programs, as well as Turkish students coming to Taiwan for degree programs and technical training.
Lai said that although Taiwan and Turkey are geographically far apart, “citizens in both countries cherish peace and democracy in pursuit of progress... So we are natural partners and supportive friends on the world stage.”
When Taiwan experienced the Jiji Earthquake on Sept. 21, 1999, Turkey immediately sent its “AKUT” rescue team to arrive in Taiwan the next day as the first international unit to arrive, Lai said.
“Last year when southern Turkey was hit by a devastating earthquake, more than 16,000 Taiwanese donated to the cause, sending more than 400 tonnes of goods, more than NT$900 million (US$28.6 million), more than 100 trained rescue workers and five sniffer dogs for assistance," she added.
The amity group could promote closer links between parliamentarians of both countries for cooperation between government departments to meet the challenges of a globalized world, Lai said.
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