On November 27 at 10:30 a.m., Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) received a four-member delegation from the Colombian Congress, comprising the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees from the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, led by Senator Óscar Mauricio Giraldo Hernández, Chair of the Colombian Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Also in attendance were KMT Legislator Dr. Hsieh Yi-Fong, DPP Legislator Chung Chia-Pin, TPP Legislator Lin Yi-Chun, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ger Bau-Shuan, and Deputy Director-General Lu Chao-Jui of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs.
President Han noted that Colombia evokes a strong and lasting impression among the people of Taiwan. From its internationally renowned coffee, global football icon James Rodríguez, to Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez’s timeless masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude, Colombia holds a cherished place in the hearts of the Taiwanese people. He expressed his deep honor in welcoming the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees from the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, both of whom were accompanied by their spouses.
While briefing the guests on Taiwan’s parliamentary structure, President Han emphasized that Taiwan adopts a unicameral system composed of 113 legislators. He highlighted that every legislator bears a significant responsibility, bringing both professional competence and unique qualities to the institution. He explained that female legislators represent 42% of the Legislative Yuan, ranking among the highest in Asia and reflecting Taiwan’s concrete achievements in advancing gender equality.
President Han mentioned that, with regard to bilateral interactions, following Colombia’s decision in June 2023 to revoke visa-free treatment for Taiwan, the number of Taiwanese visitors to Colombia has noticeably decreased. He expressed hope that both countries could explore the restoration of visa-free arrangements, which would facilitate visits by Taiwanese citizens to Colombia and further enhance substantive exchanges between the parliaments and peoples of the two countries. He stressed that Taiwan is renowned for its warmth and friendliness, and hoped that the parliaments of Colombia and Taiwan will continue to build upon the existing friendship to promote future exchanges, while maintaining close communication on international and national affairs.
Senator Giraldo Hernández remarked that in his capacity as Chair of the Second Committee of the Colombian Senate, he oversees key areas such as international affairs, security, sovereignty, foreign trade, and international cooperation, which is why he understands the significance of this visit to Taiwan. He noted that Colombia and Taiwan share a dedication to pursuing stability, prosperity, and security in society, and he reiterated that the resilience of institutions, the commitment to family values, and the hardworking spirit of their peoples are the essential forces propelling both nations forward. He showed great admiration for Taiwan’s democratic resilience, innovative capacity, and perseverance in the face of continued external pressures. Senator Giraldo Hernández also highlighted that the Colombian Congress has always maintained a clear and firm position toward Taiwan, marked by respect and a strong recognition of Taiwan’s contributions worldwide. He expressed hope that both countries would establish closer and enduring parliamentary cooperation, noting that more substantive progress could be made in areas such as parliamentary friendship groups, cooperation in science and agriculture, exchanges in healthcare and innovation, as well as cybersecurity and political integrity systems. He also stressed the importance of increasing interaction between parliamentary committees responsible for strategic issues in both countries.
He added that he looks forward to the reopening of an official Colombian trade representative office in Taiwan, as it would serve to enhance bilateral cooperation, foster closer ties in science and academia, support business growth, broaden economic and trade exchanges, and establish a permanent platform for collaboration between agencies of both countries. He also gave his assurance that he would work actively to advance the proposal in the Senate. In closing, Senator Giraldo Hernández affirmed that the determination and resilience demonstrated by the Legislative Yuan and the people of Taiwan serve as a model for maintaining national stability in the midst of complex international dynamics. He added that Colombia is willing to work with Taiwan to jointly create a new chapter of cooperation, bringing greater benefits to the peoples of both countries, and that he looked forward to a closer, more fruitful bilateral relationship arising from this visit.
Representative Álvaro Mauricio Londoño Lugo stated that he felt deeply honored to be invited to Taiwan, and that seeing firsthand the country’s vibrant growth and outstanding resilience amid difficult regional circumstances was truly inspiring. He hoped that Taiwan will take Colombia as a steadfast ally, stressing that the Colombian Congress, both the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, is fully committed to promoting pro-Taiwan policies and collaboration programs.
Representative Londoño Lugo further mentioned that, following Colombia’s presidential election next year, he hopes preparations can be accelerated to reopen a Colombian representative office in Taiwan and to reinstate visa-free entry for Taiwanese citizens. Such measures, he noted, would expand tourism and economic exchanges, thereby fostering closer bilateral relations. He pledged that the Colombian Congress would continue its efforts to deepen cooperation between Taiwan and Colombia. He conveyed his profound respect for Taiwan once again and commended the distinguished ambassador and diplomatic personnel stationed in Colombia. In closing, he extended a cordial invitation to Taiwanese friends to visit Colombia, which he believed would help strengthen the friendship between the two nations.
Legislator Hsieh expressed gratitude to the Colombian Congress for consistently speaking up for Taiwan and for their support in the reopening of a Colombian trade representative office in Taiwan, noting that this would help enhance bilateral cooperation in areas such as agriculture, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence, and would be of great significance to Taiwan-Colombia relations. She remarked that, as a long-time member on the Legislative Yuan’s Economics Committee, she pays close attention to agricultural policy and industrial growth. She pointed out that as Taiwan is actively promoting smart, precision, and sustainable agriculture, there is vast potential for future cooperation with Colombia. With regard to technology, she noted that she has on several occasions gained insights into Taiwan’s progress in AI and mass production lines, and expressed her hope that both countries will achieve more concrete outcomes in semiconductor and AI technologies. Legislator Hsieh also mentioned that a number of Taiwanese businesses have set up operations in Colombia, and voiced her expectation that the dialogue today would be conducive to future collaboration between both countries in diverse fields.
Legislator Chung thanked the Colombian Congress for its enduring support of Taiwan, and went on to say that he hoped Colombia and Taiwan would stand together in rejecting China’s continued distortion of UN Resolution 2758, thereby preventing the international community from falling into the misconception that “Taiwan is part of China.” He reiterated that Taiwan is an independent and beautiful country, and expressed hope that the international community will understand the voices and aspirations of the Taiwanese people in a more accurate way. He extended heartfelt appreciation for the delegates’ commitment to facilitating exchanges, reopening a trade representative office in Taiwan, and restoring visa-free arrangements. He sincerely invited the delegates to his hometown of Pingtung to experience firsthand the hospitality and cultural charm of southern Taiwan.
Legislator Lin expressed her gratitude to the delegation for visiting Taiwan, noting that the trip was not merely a courtesy call, but also a demonstration of Colombia’s respect and goodwill toward Taiwan. She hoped that the guests could experience the beauty of Taiwan and the warmth of its people during this trip, and expressed her expectation that the day’s dialogue would infuse new vitality into the Taiwan-Colombia friendship and further advance bilateral relations. She further stated that, if visa-free arrangements could be restored in the future, there would be more Taiwanese visiting Colombia, learning more of its cultural traditions and magnificent landscapes, thereby improving mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
The participants subsequently exchanged views on issues related to Taiwan-Colombia relations. The meeting lasted approximately 40 minutes and was conducted in a warm and lively atmosphere. It concluded successfully with an exchange of commemorative gifts and a group photo.
