On the evening of August 31, Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) attended the Singapore’s 61st National Day Reception, hosted by the Singapore Trade Office in Taipei. The reception was attended by distinguished guests from the political, business, academic, and diplomatic sectors, including representatives of several diplomatic missions in Taiwan and more than a dozen legislators from across party lines. More than 400 guests attended the grand occasion.
Following the opening announcement by the emcee, Foo Teow Lee, Trade Representative of the Singapore Trade Office in Taipei, delivered her remarks. Representative Foo noted that Taiwan and Singapore are both open, export-oriented economies with highly complementary strengths in areas including semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, finance, and logistics. She also highlighted the deep friendship and trust built between the people of Taiwan and Singapore over more than four decades through youth exchanges and close interaction as an important foundation for the continued advancement of bilateral relations. She expressed hope that the two sides would continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation across various fields on the solid foundation already established. Following Representative Foo’s remarks, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ger Bau-Shuan and Vice President Chiang delivered remarks in turn.
In his remarks, Vice President Chiang said he was honored to attend the Singapore 61st National Day Reception. On behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜), he extended his sincere congratulations to the government and people of Singapore. He noted that Singapore has developed from a regional port city into a global leader in finance, shipping, technology, and innovation, achieving remarkable success; more importantly, Singapore has consistently demonstrated the courage to respond to changing circumstances, continued to innovate, and prepared for the future with foresight, providing valuable experience for Taiwan to learn from.
Vice President Chiang emphasized that Taiwan and Singapore have long been close and important partners, with strong results in economic and trade cooperation. Since the Agreement between Singapore and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Partnership (ASTEP) took effect in 2014, economic and trade relations have continued to grow. He said that bilateral trade exceeded US$53 billion in 2025, and that Singapore is Taiwan’s sixth-largest trading partner, while Taiwan has become Singapore’s largest merchandise trading partner, driven by demand for artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, demonstrating the close ties and complementarity between the two sides.
Vice President Chiang further noted that he had exchanged views with Representative Foo on May 4 this year regarding city-to-city exchanges, artificial intelligence, the global economy, and energy security, highlighting that these issues are closely connected to people’s daily lives and the future of the next generation. He pointed out that his hometown of Taichung is a major hub for Taiwan’s precision machinery and manufacturing industries, as well as an important link in the global high-tech supply chain. Looking ahead, he expressed hope that Taiwan and Singapore could bring together the strengths of their governments, industries, academic communities, and cities to deepen exchanges and cooperation and jointly build an innovative, resilient, secure, and sustainable future.
Vice President Chiang concluded by saying that the friendship between Taiwan and Singapore is rooted not only in economic, trade, and technological cooperation, but also in the close ties between their peoples. After entering the Legislative Yuan in 2012, he initiated the establishment of the R.O.C. (Taiwan)-Singapore Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association, and served as its president for 12 consecutive years. He added that currently 84 legislators from across party lines in the 11th Legislative Yuan participate in the R.O.C. (Taiwan)-Singapore Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association, demonstrating that deepening Taiwan-Singapore cooperation is a consensus across the political spectrum. Looking ahead, he expressed hope that parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges would continue to pass the friendship on from generation to generation, and extended his best wishes for Singapore’s continued prosperity and the lasting friendship between Taiwan and Singapore.
Finally, Representative Foo invited Vice President Chiang, Vice Minister Ger, Minister without Portfolio Chi Lien-Cheng of the Executive Yuan, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo Li-Hsiung, and other distinguished guests to the stage to raise a toast with the guests in attendance. The participants conveyed their blessings with three consecutive calls of “Yum Seng,” a traditional Singaporean toast. The reception continued in a warm and cordial atmosphere filled with friendship, and after approximately two hours of festivities, the event concluded successfully. (2026/08/31)
