On the morning of October 1, Consultant Wang Chuan-Chong of the Legislative Yuan attended the Inauguration Ceremony of the Taiwan-Italy Parliament Members Friendship Caucus, initiated by Legislator Wang Ting-Yu. Distinguished guests in attendance included Legislators Lee Kuen-Cheng, Huang Shiou-Fang, and Chuang Jui-Hsiung, along with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu and Representative Marco Lombardi of the Italian Economic, Trade, and Cultural Promotion Office in Taipei, among others, who all joined in celebrating the occasion.
The inauguration ceremony began with opening remarks from the initiator, Legislator Wang Ting-Yu, followed by the adoption of the organization's charter and the election of the president and vice president. In his remarks, Consultant Wang Chuan-Chong expressed his honor in representing President Daniel K.Y. Han at the inauguration ceremony of the Taiwan-Italy Parliament Members Friendship Caucus. He also took the opportunity to extend his gratitude to the Foreign Affairs Committee of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies for passing a pro-Taiwan resolution on September 18, which strongly supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in United Nations agencies and specialized organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This resolution not only demonstrates the Italian Parliament's support for Taiwan but also aligns with the pro-Taiwan stance reflected in the joint statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, chaired by Italy. He expressed gratitude to the Italian Parliament for recognizing Taiwan's significant role in the Indo-Pacific region and for consistently demonstrating steadfast support for Taiwan's international participation through concrete actions. This not only holds great significance for Taiwan-Italy relations but also plays a crucial role in strengthening collaboration among global democratic partners and jointly defending democratic values and resilience.
Consultant Wang continued by highlighting that Italy is a beautiful country with unique landscapes and a rich cultural heritage, whose remarkable achievements in history and the arts are deeply admired. Despite the vast distance between Taiwan and Italy, the two nations share universal values such as democracy and freedom, while their economies exhibit both similarities and complementarity. Italy, leveraging its advanced production technologies and robust industrial base, has become a member of the G7. In particular, its small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make an outstanding contribution to the national economy, generating over two-thirds of the country's GDP and serving as a key driver of economic stability and growth. This closely resembles Taiwan's economic structure, where SMEs similarly play an indispensable role in driving innovation, promoting economic development, and ensuring social stability.
Consultant Wang praised Italy as a globally renowned cultural powerhouse. In 2021, Italy was recognized as the country with the highest cultural influence in the world. The Venice Biennale and the Bologna Children's Book Fair, hosted by Italy, are internationally recognized benchmarks in the fields of art, architecture, and children's book publishing. In April 2024, a special exhibition titled "When Two Seas Meet in Bologna," jointly curated by Rex How, Chairman of Locus Publishing, and Grazia Gotti, founder of the Accademia Drosselmeier, was grandly launched in Bologna, Italy. This exhibition not only showcased the close cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Italy but also represented the mutual inspiration and integration of soft power between the two sides. Through this exhibition, Taiwanese artists were able to take the international stage, allowing the world to gain a deeper understanding of the limitless potential for development in the diverse cultural and artistic landscape of "Formosa Taiwan."
In closing, Consultant Wang expressed his gratitude to Legislator Wang Ting-Yu for establishing the Taiwan-Italy Parliament Members Friendship Caucus. He voiced confidence that through this platform for parliamentary diplomacy, the Legislative Yuan will continue to deepen exchanges with the Italian Parliament and help strengthen the partnership between the two countries. He expressed hope that Taiwan and Italy will continue to support each other on the international stage, forging a new chapter in the development of bilateral relations and contributing further to global prosperity and growth. Should the Friendship Caucus require any administrative support in the future, the Legislative Yuan will be fully committed to providing assistance.
The inauguration ceremony continued with congratulatory remarks from Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu and Representative Marco Lombardi of the Italian Economic, Trade, and Cultural Promotion Office in Taipei. Legislator Wang Ting-Yu then invited the distinguished guests for a group photo and an amicable exchange. The event, lasting approximately 40 minutes, concluded successfully.
