President Daniel K.Y. Han: “we encourage our legislators to engage in parliamentary diplomacy, through which the truth, goodness, and beauty of Taiwan can be conveyed to the world.”

On Mach 8, 2024, President Daniel K.Y. Han of the Legislative Yuan attended at 09:30 a.m. the inauguration of six parliamentary friendship associations; these bodies include Taiwan-EU Parliamentary Friendship Association and Taiwan-Latin America Parliamentary Friendship Association, convened by Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung; Taiwan-Mongolia Parliamentary Friendship Association by Legislator Tsai Yi-yu; Taiwan-Southern Europe Parliamentary Friendship Association and Taiwan-Austronesia Parliamentary Friendship Association by Legislator Wang Mei-hui; Taiwan-Europe Parliamentary Friendship Association by Legislator Wu Pei-yi.

Also in attendance were Legislators Cheng Cheng-chien, Chang Chi-kai, Lee Kuen-cheng, Loh Mei-ling, Kuo Yu-ching, Lin Yueh-chin, and Lai Hui-yuan; Deputy Secretary-General Chang Yu-jung of the Legislative Yuan; Deputy Foreign Minister Kelly Hsieh Wu-chiao; Director General Eric Huang Jiun-yaw of the Department of European Affairs and Deputy Director Generals of the Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of Western Asian and African Affairs, and Department of Latin America and Caribbean Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA); H.E. Ambassador Bikenibeu Paeniu of Tuvalu; H.E. Ambassador Anjanette Kattil of Marshall Islands; Representative Filip Grzegorzewski of European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan; Director Matthieu Branders of the Belgian Office, Taipei; Representative Tumurbaatar Gankhuyag and Deputy Representative Ulziibat Altandush of Ulaanbaatar Trade and Economic Representative Office in Taipei.

President Han commenced the inauguration by welcoming on behalf of the Legislative Yuan the attending ambassadors and foreign representatives and thanking Legislators Chuang Jui-hsiung and Wu Pei-yi for inviting him to attend the grant event. Han pointed out that through the efforts over the past few years, bilateral exchanges between Taiwan and European countries, Mongolia, and Austronesian countries, have become more frequent. Latin America is also a region with which Taiwan has close ties. These interactions over the years made the inauguration even more significant.

President Han continued to point out that parliamentary diplomacy is an essential part of Taiwan’s diplomatic strategies. With parliamentary friendship associations serving as platforms for exchanges, Taiwan can have access to so many more countries and international organizations. Han also encouraged the 113 legislators, on behalf of Taiwan’s 23 million people, to pay visits to other countries with delegations for in-depth exchanges, when the Legislative Yuan is in recess. In this way, it is hoped that in the future, the truth, goodness, and beauty of Taiwan can be presented onto the world stage.

Later on, remarks were given by Legislators Chuang Jui-hsiung, Tsai Yi-Yu, Wang Mei-Hui, and Wu Pei-Yi, as well as the attending representatives of diplomatic envoys. The event concluded with a group photo and fruitful exchange of ideas after 1 hour, with the organizational charter of the Associations passed and their presidents and vice presidents elected.