A group of visiting Spanish lawmakers yesterday called for the promotion of closer bilateral relations with Taiwan, during a meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Wu (吳志中), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said today.
Led by Mikel Legarda Uriarte, the six-member cross-party delegation is visiting Taiwan from Tuesday through Saturday, the ministry said in a news release.
Legarda, a member of the Congress of Deputies — the lower house of Spain's bicameral parliament — praised Taiwan's democracy at a luncheon in Taipei hosted by Wu, the release said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Spanish parliamentarian said his country can learn a lot from Taiwan, especially how Taipei leverages its high-tech prowess to navigate geopolitical volatility and ensure its democracy is not affected by authoritarian regimes, it added.
The five-day visit is intended to facilitate closer bilateral exchanges on various fronts, Legarda said.
Wu said Taiwan and Spain share common democratic values. Bilateral trade has been growing in recent years, he said, adding that he hopes to see further cooperation in the areas of semiconductors, renewable energy, and information and communication technology, the ministry said.
The Spanish delegation includes lawmakers Cristina Valido García, Nerea Ahedo Ceza and Idoia Sagastizabal, and it is the second such group from Spain to visit Taiwan since January 2023, MOFA said.
While in Taiwan, the delegation is scheduled to meet with Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) and National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆), MOFA said.
The members would also visit the International Trade Administration, the National Science and Technology Council and the Hsinchu Science Park, it 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
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS