At noon on September 1, Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣), accompanied by KMT Legislator Lu Yu-Ling, Vice Chair of the Taiwan-Italy Parliament Members Friendship Caucus, DPP Legislator Kuo Yu-Ching, TPP Legislator Dr. Hsu Chung-Hsin, and Marco Lombardi, Representative of the Italian Economic, Trade, and Cultural Promotion Office in Taipei (IETCPO), hosted a luncheon for a delegation comprising members of the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies led by Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio.
In his remarks, Vice President Chiang first welcomed Vice President Centinaio and his delegation on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜). He noted that this was the fifth Italian parliamentary delegation received by the 11th Legislative Yuan and Vice President Centinaio’s fifth visit to Taiwan, reflecting the close friendship and frequent exchanges between the parliaments of Taiwan and Italy. Vice President Chiang recalled receiving a delegation led by Vice President Centinaio in May 2024 and leading a delegation to Italy in July of the same year, during which he visited Milan, Rome, and the Italian Parliament. He expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by his Italian counterparts. To commemorate their reunion, he also presented Vice President Centinaio with a photograph taken during his 2024 visit to Taiwan and expressed hope that parliamentary exchanges between Taiwan and Italy would continue to deepen.
Vice President Chiang noted that Italy has a rich cultural heritage extending from ancient Roman civilization through the Renaissance. He expressed gratitude to the Italian Parliament for passing legislation this July that grants immunity from seizure to foreign artworks and cultural goods on loan, culminating more than two decades of legislative efforts and laying a sound foundation for future international cultural exchanges. He added that the National Palace Museum’s exhibition in the Czech Republic last year was also a great success and expressed hope for more cultural heritage exchanges between Taiwan and Italy in the future.
Vice President Chiang stated that Italy is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union, and that bilateral cooperation in technology and semiconductors has continued to deepen. He noted that a short-term Taiwan-Europe semiconductor talent training program is already underway, with 74 Italian science and engineering professionals having come to Taiwan for training, demonstrating the strong foundation for bilateral cooperation in high technology and talent development. Although Taiwan and Italy are geographically far apart, Vice President Chiang emphasized that distance poses no barrier to exchanges between the two sides in parliamentary affairs, culture, trade, and technology, and expressed hope that they would continue to build on their friendship and deepen cooperation. Vice President Chiang concluded by noting that Italian cuisine is renowned worldwide and said that Taiwanese dishes had been prepared for the luncheon to give Vice President Centinaio and the delegation a taste of Taiwan.
In his remarks, Vice President Centinaio thanked Vice President Chiang and the Legislative Yuan for their warm hospitality. He noted that the delegation included members of both the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies, represented both ruling and opposition parties, and came from northern, central, and southern Italy, making it highly representative of the Italian Parliament. Vice President Centinaio said that he had visited Taiwan two years earlier to attend the inauguration of Taiwan’s president and had returned this time with good news: the Italian Parliament’s passage of legislation granting immunity from seizure to foreign artworks and cultural goods on loan, an achievement he was pleased to celebrate with Taiwan. He stressed that the passage of the legislation was highly significant, as it would not only help deepen international cultural exchanges but also increase Taiwan’s visibility in Italy. In the past, he said, Italians tended to associate Taiwan primarily with technology, semiconductors, and trade and economic ties. Through cultural exchanges, however, Italian society would be able to gain a more multifaceted understanding of Taiwan. Sharing his impressions from a recent visit to the National Palace Museum, he noted that culture is an important force for promoting mutual understanding among the peoples of different countries and expressed hope for more cultural exchanges in the future.
Vice President Centinaio further stated that parliamentary diplomacy, exchanges among pro-Taiwan parliamentarians, and private-sector cooperation all contribute to stronger bilateral relations. He emphasized that legislators in both Italy and Taiwan are elected by the people and share a commitment to democratic values and direct dialogue. As a member of the democratic community, Italy, he said, is willing to continue deepening exchanges and cooperation with like-minded partners.
Vice President Chiang and Vice President Centinaio then raised their glasses in a toast to the long-lasting friendship between Taiwan and Italy, formally opening the luncheon. During the meal, the two sides held a wide-ranging exchange of views on Taiwan-Italy cooperation. Vice President Chiang also arranged for shaved ice to be served, giving the guests a taste of an authentic Taiwanese summer treat. After approximately 90 minutes of lively and cordial conversation, the luncheon concluded with Vice President Chiang and the visiting guests exchanging commemorative gifts. (2026/9/1)
