Several lawmakers held a ceremony in the Legislative Yuan on Friday to mark the inauguration of six parliamentary friendship groups to promote closer exchanges with European countries.
The aim of setting up the groups is to help boost Taiwan’s international participation, lawmakers said.
The groups include the Taiwanese parliamentary group working on WTO diplomacy, the Taiwan-
Photo: Yang Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Association, the Taiwan-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Taiwan-Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg Parliamentary Friendship Association.
The Dutch parliament and the Belgian parliament’s Chamber of Representatives have passed resolutions in support of Taiwan in recent years, while Luxembourg has also voiced support for Taiwan participating in the WHO, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Lin I-chin (林宜瑾) said.
In addition, Switzerland’s lower house passed a resolution in May last year to “strengthen cooperation with the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan,” demonstrating the support of European countries for Taiwan’s international participation and cooperation, Lin said.
Taiwan not only has to seek out economic opportunities, but also strengthen democracy and human rights to boost ties with democratic countries worldwide, Lin said.
Meanwhile, DPP legislator Fan Yun (范雲), who chairs the Taiwan Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, pledged to strengthen international connections and build an alliance against China based on human rights.
She said she also established the Taiwan-Europe Social Democratic and Anti-Authoritarian Countries Parliamentary Friendship Network.
DPP Legislator Chang Hung-lu (張宏陸), who was re-elected chairman of the Taiwan-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group, highlighted the shared values of democracy and freedom between the two countries.
German Institute Taipei Director-General Jorg Polster welcomed the establishment of parliamentary friendship associations, saying that he was looking forward to accompanying a German parliamentary delegation at this year’s presidential inauguration ceremony in Taiwan.
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