President Daniel K.Y. Han of the Legislative Yuan meets with Danish parliamentary delegation. President Han: We thank Folketing Member Pia Kjærsgaard for supporting Taiwan and increasing Taiwan’s visibility on global stage in the past 30 years.
On the morning of November 13, President of the Legislative Yuan Daniel K.Y. Han, accompanied by KMT Legislator Chen Ching-Hui, DPP Legislator Chen Pei-Yu, TPP Legislator Chen Gau-Tzu, Deputy Director of the Department of International Affairs Yang Fang-Ling, and Deputy Secretary General of the European Affairs Department Li Hsiu-Yao, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with a five-member delegation from the Danish parliament led by Folketing Member Pia Kjærsgaard.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to the delegation. After taking a group photo with the attending legislators and guests, he noted that the presence of cross-party legislators today symbolizes the Legislative Yuan’s high regard for the visiting delegation. In his welcome remarks, President Han extended his heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Danish Folketing for their visit, which demonstrates their strong support for Taiwan. He particularly acknowledged the delegation leader, Folketing Member Pia Kjærsgaard, who has visited Taiwan eight times since 1987. Over the years, she has met with multiple former Taiwanese presidents and Legislative Yuan members, proposed numerous pro-Taiwan resolutions in the Danish Folketing, and has consistently advocated for Taiwan, raising international awareness and fostering stronger ties. Her dedication to deepening the Taiwan-Denmark partnership spans over 30 years, making her one of Taiwan's closest and dearest friends in the Danish Folketing.
President Han further noted that the fairy tales of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen are universally renowned. Timeless classics such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Tinderbox, and Little Claus and Big Claus are stories that have become household names, cherished by generations around the world. The masterpiece Hamlet by the distinguished British playwright William Shakespeare is set against the backdrop of Kronborg Slot (also known as Hamlet’s Castle) in Denmark. This historic site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. In addition, Denmark is the birthplace of the iconic LEGO toy bricks. The LEGO Group was founded in 1932 by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, deriving its name from the Danish phrase "leg godt," meaning "play well." Denmark's diverse literary and artistic creations have had a profound influence on the world today.
President Han further remarked that Denmark is a global leader in green energy and one of the countries most dedicated to the renewable energy transition. Currently, over 40% of Denmark's electricity is generated from green energy sources, and the country has set a goal to cease oil and natural gas extraction by 2050. President Han expressed his hope for future collaboration between Taiwan and Denmark to transform Taiwan into a key hub for the green energy industry in Asia. In terms of economic exchanges, Denmark's total investment in Taiwan reached 24.3 billion Danish kroner in 2022, making it the largest European investor in Taiwan. According to data released last year (2023) by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark's export trade volume to Taiwan has tripled over the past five years, increasing from 2.3 billion Danish kroner to 6.7 billion Danish kroner. It is hoped that Taiwan and Denmark will engage in closer cooperation across more fields in the future, creating mutual benefits and a win-win situation for both sides.
Lastly, President Han shared with the guests that among the 113 seats in the current (11th) Legislative Yuan, 55 are held by newly elected legislators, and 47 seats, or 41% of the total, are occupied by female legislators. This demonstrates the Legislative Yuan's strong commitment to gender equality and reflects the growing influence of women in politics.
In her remarks, Folketing Member Kjærsgaard shared that she has been observing Taiwan for over 30 years, starting from her first visit to meet former President Lee Teng-Hui. She expressed deep admiration for Taiwan's progress in various fields, including environmental protection, economic development, and democratic governance. During this visit, she said she hoped to engage in dialogues with representatives from different sectors to better understand the challenges and needs Taiwan is currently facing. She remarked that during this visit, she experienced the warmth and friendliness of the Taiwanese people, as well as the openness and freedom of its society. She also gained firsthand insights into Taiwan's industrial landscape and development, expressing particular admiration for the flourishing electronics industry. She hoped that in the future, Taiwan and Denmark will have more opportunities for collaboration in industries such as green energy and technology. Folketing Member Kjærsgaard concluded by stating that leading this delegation of fellow parliamentarians to Taiwan underscores their support for the country. She expressed her hope for more exchanges and interactions between the delegation members and the Legislative Yuan.
After exchanging gifts, President Han invited the guests to a luncheon in the banquet hall. During the meal, they engaged in discussions on topics such as the educational systems of Taiwan and Denmark, birth rates, trade and investment, industrial collaboration, green energy technology development, and national defense. The meeting and luncheon lasted approximately two hours in a warm and friendly atmosphere, leaving the guests delighted and marking a successful conclusion to the day's gathering.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to the delegation. After taking a group photo with the attending legislators and guests, he noted that the presence of cross-party legislators today symbolizes the Legislative Yuan’s high regard for the visiting delegation. In his welcome remarks, President Han extended his heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Danish Folketing for their visit, which demonstrates their strong support for Taiwan. He particularly acknowledged the delegation leader, Folketing Member Pia Kjærsgaard, who has visited Taiwan eight times since 1987. Over the years, she has met with multiple former Taiwanese presidents and Legislative Yuan members, proposed numerous pro-Taiwan resolutions in the Danish Folketing, and has consistently advocated for Taiwan, raising international awareness and fostering stronger ties. Her dedication to deepening the Taiwan-Denmark partnership spans over 30 years, making her one of Taiwan's closest and dearest friends in the Danish Folketing.
President Han further noted that the fairy tales of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen are universally renowned. Timeless classics such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Tinderbox, and Little Claus and Big Claus are stories that have become household names, cherished by generations around the world. The masterpiece Hamlet by the distinguished British playwright William Shakespeare is set against the backdrop of Kronborg Slot (also known as Hamlet’s Castle) in Denmark. This historic site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. In addition, Denmark is the birthplace of the iconic LEGO toy bricks. The LEGO Group was founded in 1932 by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, deriving its name from the Danish phrase "leg godt," meaning "play well." Denmark's diverse literary and artistic creations have had a profound influence on the world today.
President Han further remarked that Denmark is a global leader in green energy and one of the countries most dedicated to the renewable energy transition. Currently, over 40% of Denmark's electricity is generated from green energy sources, and the country has set a goal to cease oil and natural gas extraction by 2050. President Han expressed his hope for future collaboration between Taiwan and Denmark to transform Taiwan into a key hub for the green energy industry in Asia. In terms of economic exchanges, Denmark's total investment in Taiwan reached 24.3 billion Danish kroner in 2022, making it the largest European investor in Taiwan. According to data released last year (2023) by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark's export trade volume to Taiwan has tripled over the past five years, increasing from 2.3 billion Danish kroner to 6.7 billion Danish kroner. It is hoped that Taiwan and Denmark will engage in closer cooperation across more fields in the future, creating mutual benefits and a win-win situation for both sides.
Lastly, President Han shared with the guests that among the 113 seats in the current (11th) Legislative Yuan, 55 are held by newly elected legislators, and 47 seats, or 41% of the total, are occupied by female legislators. This demonstrates the Legislative Yuan's strong commitment to gender equality and reflects the growing influence of women in politics.
In her remarks, Folketing Member Kjærsgaard shared that she has been observing Taiwan for over 30 years, starting from her first visit to meet former President Lee Teng-Hui. She expressed deep admiration for Taiwan's progress in various fields, including environmental protection, economic development, and democratic governance. During this visit, she said she hoped to engage in dialogues with representatives from different sectors to better understand the challenges and needs Taiwan is currently facing. She remarked that during this visit, she experienced the warmth and friendliness of the Taiwanese people, as well as the openness and freedom of its society. She also gained firsthand insights into Taiwan's industrial landscape and development, expressing particular admiration for the flourishing electronics industry. She hoped that in the future, Taiwan and Denmark will have more opportunities for collaboration in industries such as green energy and technology. Folketing Member Kjærsgaard concluded by stating that leading this delegation of fellow parliamentarians to Taiwan underscores their support for the country. She expressed her hope for more exchanges and interactions between the delegation members and the Legislative Yuan.
After exchanging gifts, President Han invited the guests to a luncheon in the banquet hall. During the meal, they engaged in discussions on topics such as the educational systems of Taiwan and Denmark, birth rates, trade and investment, industrial collaboration, green energy technology development, and national defense. The meeting and luncheon lasted approximately two hours in a warm and friendly atmosphere, leaving the guests delighted and marking a successful conclusion to the day's gathering.