On the evening of May 26, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) hosted the delegation led by Marie-Noëlle Battistel, chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group, at a banquet at the Speaker’s residence for the first time. President Han was accompanied by members of the Taiwan-France Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association, including DPP Legislators Lin Chu-Yin and Chiu Yi-Ying; KMT Legislators Dr. Yang Chiung-Ying, Dr. Alice Chang, Lu Ming-Che, Lo Ting-Wei, and Dr. Lin Pei-Hsiang; as well as TPP Legislator Chiu Hui-Ju.
President Han opened the banquet by sincerely welcoming Chair Battistel and her delegation on behalf of the Legislative Yuan. He thanked the French National Assembly's Taiwan Friendship Group for its warm hospitality during his recent visit to France with a cross-party delegation of legislators. Seeing Chair Battistel and the French parliamentarians again just two weeks later, he said, underscored the close parliamentary exchanges and deep friendship between Taiwan and France. Additionally, President Han especially thanked France for its long-standing support in speaking up for Taiwan in international settings, which plays a critical role in Taiwan’s international participation and is deeply appreciated by the people of Taiwan.
Chair Battistel, the head of the delegation, thanked President Han for his warm hospitality. She noted that the delegation was composed of parliamentarians from different political parties. Although they held different political views, support for Taiwan was a cross-party consensus. Moreover, Chair Battistel shared her thoughts about the delegation’s visit to Kaohsiung for the French Lifestyle Festival. She said that the delegation was impressed by the Taiwanese people’s enthusiasm for French culture and emphasized that each visit to Taiwan leaves her with many precious memories and meaningful gains. She expressed hope that Taiwan-France relations would continue to advance.
Subsequently, the two sides exchanged extensive views on artificial intelligence, national defense, and cultural exchanges between Taiwan and France, and conveyed their friendship through classic songs from both countries. President Han also specially prepared Taiwanese seasonal fruits, including lychees and mangoes, as well as the widely loved shaved ice, for the guests to experience Taiwan’s summer culinary culture. The banquet lasted approximately two and a half hours and concluded successfully in a warm and lively atmosphere, with the host and guests thoroughly enjoying the occasion. (2026/05/26)
