President Han met with the German Bundestag Congratulatory Delegation on the afternoon of May 22. In attendance were Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang, Chairperson Chang Hung-lu of the Taiwan-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Association, Legislators Weng Hsiao-ling and Chang Chi-kai, International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of European Affairs Li Hsiu-yao, and Dr. Jörg Polster of the German Institute in Taipei.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to the guests and posed for a group photo with Vice President Chiang and representatives from various party caucuses. He expressed gratitude to the delegation for traveling to Taiwan to attend the inauguration ceremony of the 16th President and Vice President. Despite some recent legislative disruptions, the representatives from the three party caucuses today greeted the German National Assembly friends with smiles and warm hospitality. The Premier continued, stating that the people of Taiwan generally hold a favorable impression of Germany. Not only is its automobile industry world-renowned, but Germany also leads in various fields such as philosophy, architecture, literature, craftsmanship, and sports. He emphasized that a great nation is built by great people. The Premier expressed his hope that through exchanges between parliamentarians, the warmth and goodwill of the Taiwanese people can be conveyed to the people of Germany.
Chairperson Klaus-Peter Willsch of the German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group expressed his gratitude to the Premier, Vice President Chiang, and representatives from various political parties for taking the time to meet with them. He also conveyed his great honor in attending the inauguration ceremony of the President and Vice President of Taiwan. Chairperson Willsch continued, stating that as a member of the German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, he has always been committed to deepening the substantive and amicable bilateral relations between Taiwan and Germany. Earlier today, during a visit to the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, he was pleased to learn that the economic and trade relations between Taiwan and Germany are becoming increasingly close. He expressed his hope to further expand the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation on this foundation. In the future, he will continue, in his capacity as a parliamentarian, to urge the German Federal Government to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the World Health Organization (WHO). He also mentioned his previous visit to Taiwan with members of the German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group in October 2022 and expressed his honor at having the opportunity to visit Taiwan again.
Vice President Chiang expressed his gratitude for Germany's long-standing support of Taiwan's participation in international organizations. He also hoped for more exchanges between the parliaments of Taiwan and Germany in the future. He emphasized that parliaments represent the will of the people, and increased exchanges between parliaments will foster closer connections and interactions between the people of both nations. As a parliamentarian, he is pleased to see Germany's increased attention to the Indo-Pacific region in recent years, particularly its focus on global issues such as sustainable economic growth, industrial supply chains, and geopolitics. He highlighted that TSMC will establish a plant in Germany by the end of this year (2024), with operations expected to commence in 2027. This development signifies that the high-tech industry is a crucial area of cooperation between Taiwan and Germany. He hopes that through parliamentary exchanges, a solid partnership can be established and that Germany will continue to support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA).
During the bilateral exchanges, Vice Chair of the German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Katrin Budde expressed that as the Chair of the Committee on Culture and Media, she is particularly focused on cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Germany. She mentioned that a Taiwanese band will perform in Weimar next month, which will contribute to deepening bilateral relations. She also highlighted her interest in artificial intelligence issues and believes that through parliamentary exchanges, both sides can learn from each other. She looks forward to inviting Taiwanese legislators to visit Germany.
Legislator Chang Hung-lu expressed his pleasure in meeting Chairperson Willsch and the two Vice Chairs in Taipei for the second time. He thanked Germany for its support and friendship toward Taiwan. Legislator Chang mentioned that Representative Jörg Wojahn had extended multiple invitations to visit Germany, but due to official duties, he has not yet been able to make the trip. He hopes to arrange a visit to Germany in early September this year. He also noted that beyond economic and trade relations, tourism, and cultural and educational exchanges, Taiwan and Germany have recently engaged in football exchanges. This year, a German football summer camp will be held in Taiwan, and Taiwanese players will train in Germany. Legislator Chang hopes that through mutual visits by parliamentarians, both sides can further enhance their understanding and friendship.
Chairperson Willsch responded that the German Bundestag also has a football team, and he suggested that Taiwan and Germany could organize friendly exchange matches in the future. The Premier recalled the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where the German team won the gold medal for the fourth time, with their star players renowned internationally as the "Golden Bombers." Vice President Chiang added that the only football park in Taiwan will be completed in Taichung, and he warmly welcomes German players to attend the opening ceremony.
Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling, who holds a German doctoral degree in law, greeted the guests in German and explained that the Legislative Yuan is currently advancing a parliamentary reform bill. She expressed hope for an opportunity to visit the German Bundestag in the future to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of parliamentary investigative powers. Dr. Ingeborg Gräßle briefly responded to Legislator Weng's inquiry about the mechanisms of parliamentary investigative powers in the German Bundestag and welcomed her to Germany to explore the relevant issues.
Legislator Chang Chi-kai expressed his sincere gratitude to Chairperson Willsch for his steadfast support and long-term friendship with Taiwan. He expressed hope that future friendly football matches could be organized between Taiwanese and German parliamentarians. He also mentioned that he is familiar with Dr. Ingeborg Gräßle and Kevin Lin, Director of the International Affairs Department, and hopes that Dr. Gräßle will visit Taiwan more frequently. He would be happy to assist with tours in collaboration with Representative Jörg Wojahn and Director Lin. Additionally, Legislator Chang noted his interest in learning from Germany's energy policies and economic development strategies, particularly highlighting Germany's significant achievement in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 46% in 2023 compared to 1990, which Taiwan could greatly benefit from.
The meeting lasted approximately one hour and was characterized by a warm and friendly atmosphere. Premier Han and Chairperson Willsch exchanged souvenirs, marking a successful conclusion to the day's discussions.
