President of the Legislative Yuan Daniel K.Y. Han meets with and hosts luncheon for delegation of permanent representatives to the United Nations from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. President Han: We thank our allies for their firm support to Taiwan on the international stage and look forward to jointly safeguarding universal values and global peace.
At noon on December 5, President of the Legislative Yuan Daniel K.Y. Han, accompanied by KMT Legislator Chen Yeong-Kang, TPP Legislator Ngalim Tiunn, DPP Legislator Wu Chun-Cheng, and International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin, met with and hosted a luncheon for a four-member delegation of permanent representatives to the United Nations (U.N.) from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies; Deputy Minister Amb. François Chihchung Wu, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York Tom Lee Chih-Chiang, and Director-General Jonathan C.Y. Sun from the Department of International Organizations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also accompanied the delegation.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation. After taking a group photo with the attending legislators and the guests, he remarked that the presence of cross-party legislators at the meeting demonstrated the Legislative Yuan’s strong support for the delegation. President Han continued by noting that Taiwan’s parliament features a unicameral system. Among the 113 members of the current legislature, 47 are female, accounting for 41% of the total seats, highlighting that Taiwan attaches great importance to gender equality and female participation in politics has become a new norm.
President Han expressed his gratitude to the ambassadors of Taiwan's diplomatic allies for voicing support for the nation on various occasions at the United Nations and sparing no effort to help Taiwan stand out on the international stage. Support of such kind is crucial to Taiwan; therefore, President Han, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, offered his sincere gratitude to the ambassadors present. He also expressed his hope that the visiting delegation can spread words about the warmth and hospitality they experience in Taiwan to the world after this visit.
President Han added that he has visited Palau six times; since his first visit 30 years ago, he has held a deep and favorable impression towards the beautiful scenery of Palau. He then remarked on Palau, St. Lucia, Tuvalu, and St. Kitts and Nevis, nations renowned for their charming natural landscapes, and looked forward to more Taiwanese people visiting these nations.
In her remarks, Ambassador Ilana Seid thanked President Han for his warm reception and the presence of cross-party legislators. She mentioned that the purpose of their visit was to better understand the developments in different areas in Taiwan, as well as its policies in medical care, public health, and national defense. She firmly believed that there is much to learn from Taiwan and promised to continue to voice support for Taiwan in the U.N. and its related systems. Ambassador Seid further mentioned the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda—Leaving No One Behind (LNOB) and pointed out that the 23.5 million people of Taiwan should not be excluded from the U.N. system. Meanwhile, she also thanked Taiwan for its long-term support and assistance to nations with which it has diplomatic ties, which has added to the strong bond and lasting relations.
In closing, Ambassador Seid mentioned that during their visit, the delegation will have the opportunity to experience Taiwanese culture and hot springs, savor its cuisine, and enjoy its natural landscapes, all of which they eagerly anticipate. In response to President Han’s experience of having visited Palau six times, Ambassador Seid mentioned with a sense of humor that she hoped to visit Taiwan five more times in order to catch up with President Han’s record, which delighted everyone present. She also invited President Han to visit New York at his discretion, so that she could return the hospitality as a host for his warm reception.
After the exchange of commemorative gifts and the taking of group photos, the meeting was followed by a luncheon, during which both sides engaged in an extensive exchange of views on various topics, including Taiwan’s international participation, transnational collaboration, cultural exchanges, and economic and trade investment. The reception and luncheon lasted approximately one hour and 30 minutes in a warm atmosphere and concluded on a friendly and pleasant note.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation. After taking a group photo with the attending legislators and the guests, he remarked that the presence of cross-party legislators at the meeting demonstrated the Legislative Yuan’s strong support for the delegation. President Han continued by noting that Taiwan’s parliament features a unicameral system. Among the 113 members of the current legislature, 47 are female, accounting for 41% of the total seats, highlighting that Taiwan attaches great importance to gender equality and female participation in politics has become a new norm.
President Han expressed his gratitude to the ambassadors of Taiwan's diplomatic allies for voicing support for the nation on various occasions at the United Nations and sparing no effort to help Taiwan stand out on the international stage. Support of such kind is crucial to Taiwan; therefore, President Han, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, offered his sincere gratitude to the ambassadors present. He also expressed his hope that the visiting delegation can spread words about the warmth and hospitality they experience in Taiwan to the world after this visit.
President Han added that he has visited Palau six times; since his first visit 30 years ago, he has held a deep and favorable impression towards the beautiful scenery of Palau. He then remarked on Palau, St. Lucia, Tuvalu, and St. Kitts and Nevis, nations renowned for their charming natural landscapes, and looked forward to more Taiwanese people visiting these nations.
In her remarks, Ambassador Ilana Seid thanked President Han for his warm reception and the presence of cross-party legislators. She mentioned that the purpose of their visit was to better understand the developments in different areas in Taiwan, as well as its policies in medical care, public health, and national defense. She firmly believed that there is much to learn from Taiwan and promised to continue to voice support for Taiwan in the U.N. and its related systems. Ambassador Seid further mentioned the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda—Leaving No One Behind (LNOB) and pointed out that the 23.5 million people of Taiwan should not be excluded from the U.N. system. Meanwhile, she also thanked Taiwan for its long-term support and assistance to nations with which it has diplomatic ties, which has added to the strong bond and lasting relations.
In closing, Ambassador Seid mentioned that during their visit, the delegation will have the opportunity to experience Taiwanese culture and hot springs, savor its cuisine, and enjoy its natural landscapes, all of which they eagerly anticipate. In response to President Han’s experience of having visited Palau six times, Ambassador Seid mentioned with a sense of humor that she hoped to visit Taiwan five more times in order to catch up with President Han’s record, which delighted everyone present. She also invited President Han to visit New York at his discretion, so that she could return the hospitality as a host for his warm reception.
After the exchange of commemorative gifts and the taking of group photos, the meeting was followed by a luncheon, during which both sides engaged in an extensive exchange of views on various topics, including Taiwan’s international participation, transnational collaboration, cultural exchanges, and economic and trade investment. The reception and luncheon lasted approximately one hour and 30 minutes in a warm atmosphere and concluded on a friendly and pleasant note.