On the evening of August 4, Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) hosted a dinner for a delegation of state legislative leaders from the Southeastern United States led by Murrell Smith, House Speaker of South Carolina. Vice President Chiang was joined by KMT Legislator Liao Wei-Hsiang, Taichung Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-Hsin, National Chung Hsing University Vice President Tsai Ching-Piao, Tunghai University Vice President Yang Ding-Yah, and China Medical University Dean of Academic Affairs Yu Yung-Luen.
Vice President Chiang first extended a warm welcome on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) to the legislative leaders from six states—South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama—and said it was an honor to receive the delegation in his hometown of Taichung. Having studied at the University of South Carolina, Vice President Chiang and Speaker Smith exchanged the university’s Gamecocks cheer, “Go Cocks!” during the dinner, highlighting the special connection between them. Vice President Chiang also recalled his visit to Atlanta this May, during which he met with representatives of the Georgia Institute of Technology, and said he felt a particular affinity with the Southeastern United States. Vice President Chiang said Taiwan was also greatly encouraged by a joint letter sent by the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, and Agriculture to state governors in June, in which the three departments encouraged them to further expand cooperation with Taiwan in trade and economic relations, education, tourism, and disaster preparedness. He noted that Taiwan-U.S. ties are strong not only at the central government level but are also becoming increasingly close at the local level. Taiwan has maintained longstanding sister relationships with a number of U.S. states and cities. Taichung, in particular, has sister-city ties with Columbia, South Carolina, and Columbus, Georgia, reflecting the deep friendship between the two sides.
Vice President Chiang said the Southeastern United States is a major manufacturing hub with global competitiveness in aerospace, automobiles, agriculture, and advanced technology. Taichung, meanwhile, is one of Taiwan’s key high-tech manufacturing centers, with strengths in precision machinery, smart manufacturing, and green energy. Given the strong complementarity between their industries, he said there is considerable potential for further cooperation in trade and investment, education, tourism, and technology. Vice President Chiang also warmly invited more U.S. state governments to establish offices in Taiwan to deepen local partnerships and advance Taiwan-U.S. cooperation for mutual benefit. He expressed hope that the delegation would bring home fond memories of Taichung’s warmth and hospitality and continue to serve as an important bridge for strengthening the friendship between Taiwan and the United States.
Speaker Smith thanked Vice President Chiang for his warm hospitality and said that the delegation’s visit had given its members an opportunity to witness Taiwan’s dynamic development firsthand, further strengthening his confidence in the prospects for a deeper Taiwan-U.S. partnership. He noted that the Southeastern United States has emerged in recent years as one of the country’s most dynamic economic regions, with impressive achievements in manufacturing, investment attraction, and industrial development. Taiwan’s innovative capacity and economic resilience, he said, closely align with the development experience of the U.S. Southeast region, giving both sides significant potential for future growth. Speaker Smith emphasized that a true partnership is not defined only by cooperation in good times, but by mutual support under all circumstances. Taiwan, he said, has long been a valued and important partner of the Southeastern United States.
Speaker Smith also noted that Columbia and Sumter in South Carolina have maintained longstanding sister-city relationships with Taichung. He said considerable efforts would be made to promote reciprocal visits between local government leaders and deepen exchanges in the years ahead. He stressed that support for Taiwan among Southeastern U.S. states goes beyond words and has been demonstrated through state legislative resolutions and related legislation. Looking ahead, he said the states would continue to work closely with Taiwan to advance cooperation in trade, investment, and other areas and to promote shared prosperity.
Vice President Chiang then raised a toast to the visiting guests, formally opening the dinner. During the evening, the two sides exchanged views on Taiwan’s political and economic development, Taiwan-U.S. relations, industrial cooperation, drone development, and Taichung’s urban development and architecture. The dinner lasted approximately 90 minutes in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts between Vice President Chiang and the delegation.（2026/08/04）
