Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Johnny C. Chiang and his delegation successfully conclude their parliamentary diplomatic visit to France
On November 14, Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Johnny C. Chiang, accompanied by Taiwanese Representative to France Hao Pei-Chih, among others, continued to lead a cross-party delegation to the French Senate to promote parliamentary diplomacy. The delegation met with Vice President of the French Senate Loïc Hervé, Chair of the Gender Equality Delegation Dominique Vérien, Vice-Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee Hélène Conway-Mouret, and Chair of the Forward-Looking Delegation Christine Lavarde. During lunchtime, Vice President Chiang and his delegation also had a meal with several pro-Taiwan members of the National Assembly.
The first meeting was with Chair Vérien of the Gender Equality Delegation. Both sides shared insights on gender equality initiatives in Taiwan and France, including related legislation, the current state and achievements of parliamentary gender equality efforts, and gender equality policies in both countries. Chair Vérien and two other attending senators highly praised the Legislative Yuan’s exceptional performance in the field of gender equality. They expressed that although Taiwan and France have different national circumstances and gender equality research areas, enhanced bilateral parliamentary exchanges in the future would significantly benefit the development of gender equality.
Vice President Chiang continued with a luncheon meeting with three members of the National Assembly, including Marie-Noëlle Battistel, former Vice Chair of the France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, who were re-elected to the French Parliament in July of this year. During the meeting, they engaged in an in-depth exchange of views on the parliamentary diplomacy efforts of the Legislative Yuan and the National Assembly. They expressed hope to further promote Taiwan-France parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation in other areas, building on bilateral exchanges to deepen the friendship between the two countries. After the luncheon, both sides took a group photo in front of the main entrance of the National Assembly, with a warm and friendly atmosphere.
In the afternoon, the delegation returned to the Senate to meet with Vice President Hervé, who oversees international affairs and also serves as a member of the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee. Vice President Hervé engaged in a bilateral exchange with Vice President Chiang and the cross-party delegation on issues including Taiwan's international participation, France's defense of freedom and democratic values, freedom of navigation and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as peace across the Taiwan Strait. Vice President Chiang expressed his gratitude to Vice President Hervé for taking the time to meet and also thanked the French Senate for its repeated concrete actions in recent years, such as passing resolutions, to uphold security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and support Taiwan’s international participation. As an advocate of peace, Taiwan will work with like-minded countries, including France, to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific region and an international order governed by rules. Vice President Chiang concluded by extending a sincere invitation to Vice President Hervé to lead a delegation to visit Taiwan at an appropriate time, to which Vice President Hervé expressed his gratitude.
The delegation then continued their meetings with Vice-Chairwoman Conway-Mouret of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee. She emphasized France's position on maintaining the status quo in the Indo-Pacific and expressed support for Taiwan's continued prosperity and participation in relevant international organizations in the region. She also noted the increasing pressure from China on Taiwan in recent years, including the spread of disinformation and cyberattacks, and stated that France is similarly facing various threats from Russia. She also highly praised the tangible results of Taiwan-France parliamentary exchanges and expressed her hope for stronger collaboration between both parties in the future. Vice President Chiang reiterated his agreement, stating that the people of Taiwan wish to maintain the peaceful status quo and are willing to work with France and other partners to promote stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. He also expressed his hope that countries would jointly support Taiwan's international participation, enabling Taiwan to receive greater international support while defending freedom, democracy, and regional stability.
The delegation then met with Chair Lavarde of the Senate Forward-Looking Committee, with Senator François Bonneau, a member of the France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, also in attendance. Chair Lavarde first introduced the history and objectives of the Forward-Looking Committee in the French Parliament, explaining that in recent years, the committee has focused on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications across various policy areas. Members of the Legislative Yuan delegation then engaged in an extensive exchange of views with Chair Lavarde on AI applications and other related topics, discussing issues specific to their constituencies and committees. Both sides expressed that the discussions were highly enlightening and agreed to maintain ongoing communication.
After a full day of intensive meetings, Executive Secretary of the Senate’s France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Philippe Péjo accompanied the delegation on a tour of historical landmarks, including the Council Room, the Chamber of Deputies, and the library of the French Chambre des Pairs, which once served as the royal palace of France. The tour left a memorable impression on the visitors. The visit of the cross-party delegation from the Legislative Yuan, officially invited by the French Senate’s France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, concluded successfully, with the delegation scheduled to return to Taiwan the following day.
Vice President Chiang and all members of the delegation expressed their sincere gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the French Senate and National Assembly. They expressed hope to meet with their French parliamentary friends in Taiwan soon, in order to offer the same hospitality and further strengthen the bilateral friendship.
The first meeting was with Chair Vérien of the Gender Equality Delegation. Both sides shared insights on gender equality initiatives in Taiwan and France, including related legislation, the current state and achievements of parliamentary gender equality efforts, and gender equality policies in both countries. Chair Vérien and two other attending senators highly praised the Legislative Yuan’s exceptional performance in the field of gender equality. They expressed that although Taiwan and France have different national circumstances and gender equality research areas, enhanced bilateral parliamentary exchanges in the future would significantly benefit the development of gender equality.
Vice President Chiang continued with a luncheon meeting with three members of the National Assembly, including Marie-Noëlle Battistel, former Vice Chair of the France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, who were re-elected to the French Parliament in July of this year. During the meeting, they engaged in an in-depth exchange of views on the parliamentary diplomacy efforts of the Legislative Yuan and the National Assembly. They expressed hope to further promote Taiwan-France parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation in other areas, building on bilateral exchanges to deepen the friendship between the two countries. After the luncheon, both sides took a group photo in front of the main entrance of the National Assembly, with a warm and friendly atmosphere.
In the afternoon, the delegation returned to the Senate to meet with Vice President Hervé, who oversees international affairs and also serves as a member of the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee. Vice President Hervé engaged in a bilateral exchange with Vice President Chiang and the cross-party delegation on issues including Taiwan's international participation, France's defense of freedom and democratic values, freedom of navigation and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as peace across the Taiwan Strait. Vice President Chiang expressed his gratitude to Vice President Hervé for taking the time to meet and also thanked the French Senate for its repeated concrete actions in recent years, such as passing resolutions, to uphold security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and support Taiwan’s international participation. As an advocate of peace, Taiwan will work with like-minded countries, including France, to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific region and an international order governed by rules. Vice President Chiang concluded by extending a sincere invitation to Vice President Hervé to lead a delegation to visit Taiwan at an appropriate time, to which Vice President Hervé expressed his gratitude.
The delegation then continued their meetings with Vice-Chairwoman Conway-Mouret of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee. She emphasized France's position on maintaining the status quo in the Indo-Pacific and expressed support for Taiwan's continued prosperity and participation in relevant international organizations in the region. She also noted the increasing pressure from China on Taiwan in recent years, including the spread of disinformation and cyberattacks, and stated that France is similarly facing various threats from Russia. She also highly praised the tangible results of Taiwan-France parliamentary exchanges and expressed her hope for stronger collaboration between both parties in the future. Vice President Chiang reiterated his agreement, stating that the people of Taiwan wish to maintain the peaceful status quo and are willing to work with France and other partners to promote stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. He also expressed his hope that countries would jointly support Taiwan's international participation, enabling Taiwan to receive greater international support while defending freedom, democracy, and regional stability.
The delegation then met with Chair Lavarde of the Senate Forward-Looking Committee, with Senator François Bonneau, a member of the France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, also in attendance. Chair Lavarde first introduced the history and objectives of the Forward-Looking Committee in the French Parliament, explaining that in recent years, the committee has focused on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications across various policy areas. Members of the Legislative Yuan delegation then engaged in an extensive exchange of views with Chair Lavarde on AI applications and other related topics, discussing issues specific to their constituencies and committees. Both sides expressed that the discussions were highly enlightening and agreed to maintain ongoing communication.
After a full day of intensive meetings, Executive Secretary of the Senate’s France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Philippe Péjo accompanied the delegation on a tour of historical landmarks, including the Council Room, the Chamber of Deputies, and the library of the French Chambre des Pairs, which once served as the royal palace of France. The tour left a memorable impression on the visitors. The visit of the cross-party delegation from the Legislative Yuan, officially invited by the French Senate’s France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, concluded successfully, with the delegation scheduled to return to Taiwan the following day.
Vice President Chiang and all members of the delegation expressed their sincere gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the French Senate and National Assembly. They expressed hope to meet with their French parliamentary friends in Taiwan soon, in order to offer the same hospitality and further strengthen the bilateral friendship.