A cross-party delegation led by Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) arrived in France yesterday to meet a group of French senators.
Exchanges between parliamentarians of the two countries have progressed in recent years as the number of members of the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group has increased three-fold to 60, Chiang said.
France has been “very positive,” Chiang added, expressing hope that there would be face-to-face conversations and a mechanism of mutual visits in the future.
Photo: Taipei Times
Stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait are among the issues that have been discussed, as well as uncertainties faced by Europe and Taiwan and impacts on trade brought by US president-elect Donald Trump, he said.
If Taiwan could cooperate with Europe and France, there would be challenges and opportunities, he added.
The delegation was met by a Taiwan friendship group in the French Senate and toured the senate at the group’s invitation.
It is a good timing to deepen relations between the two countries, said French Senator Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, who currently chairs the group.
Shared benefits in sectors such as the economy, innovation, higher education, culture, energy and the climate have been discussed, he said.
He added that a French naval ship passed through the Taiwan Strait at the end of last month, saying that France values the freedom of navigation.
It is certain that Europe supports stability and maintaining the "status quo" in Taiwan Strait, he said.
The French Senate supports Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, a stance shared by parliaments in many other countries, he said.
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