Deputy Secretary-General of the Legislative Yuan Chang Yu-Jung meets with delegation of state legislative leaders from the Eastern U.S. region
On the afternoon of December 17, Deputy Secretary-General of the Legislative Yuan Chang Yu-Jung, accompanied by International Affairs Department Executive Officer Tsai Shu-Zhen, met with a nine-member delegation of state legislative leaders from the Eastern U.S region.
Deputy Secretary-General Chang first extended his gratitude to members of the visiting delegation for their attention to the situation across the Taiwan Strait and their long-term support for Taiwan. He pointed out that 2024 marked the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), and the 35th anniversary of Taiwan’s sister-state agreement with New Jersey as well as the 25th with Connecticut. Deputy Secretary-General Chang continued by noting that the first agreement under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade came into effect on December 10, which was a major milestone for Taiwan-U.S. collaboration and a stepping stone for negotiating the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) in the future. He also mentioned that the east coast of the U.S. which borders the central Atlantic Ocean, where the visiting delegation came from, is a key global trade region, and therefore looked forward to more collaborations and investment opportunities between both sides in terms of AI, advanced technology, and military industry. Deputy Secretary-General Chang remarked on the trade and investment offices established by the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey in Taiwan, which can further deepen mutual partnerships and increase interactions between the governments and people of both nations.
Deputy Secretary-General Chang specifically thanked Representative Melissa Shusterman, along with 16 other state representatives, for their effort at the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2024 to pass a resolution that recognizes October 10 as the National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Pennsylvania, demonstrating the firm support from the U.S. to Taiwan. In addition, he mentioned that the current (11th) Legislative Yuan has received over 50 delegations from the U.S., including members from the Senate and House of Representatives, scholars from think tanks, assistants to Congress members, constituency directors, members of state legislatures, governors, and university teachers and students, totaling over 500 visitors from the U.S. government, academia, and all walks of life. He expressed that through bilateral exchanges, there can be more interactions and better mutual understanding, in hopes of more opportunities for future collaborations between the two nations in different fields.
In closing, Deputy Secretary-General Chang expressed his hope that after the new U.S. administration takes office in January 2025, there can be more visits and exchanges between the parliaments, state governments, and state legislatures of both nations. He also looked forward to more interactions between the two sides to build stronger partnerships, contributing to everlasting bilateral relations.
Both sides then engaged in an extensive exchange of views on various topics, including Taiwan's political system, the composition of members of the Legislative Yuan, and parliamentary procedures. The meeting was convened in a friendly and pleasant atmosphere, with both sides exchanging commemorative gifts and taking a group photo. After the meeting, the delegation, accompanied by staff from the Department of International Affairs, visited the Chamber Hall to listen to discussions over session affairs including seating arrangements, interpellations, debates, and voting methods. President Daniel K.Y. Han, presiding over the plenary sitting, specifically introduced the visiting delegation and waved his hand as a greeting. The visit concluded after approximately 90 minutes.
Deputy Secretary-General Chang first extended his gratitude to members of the visiting delegation for their attention to the situation across the Taiwan Strait and their long-term support for Taiwan. He pointed out that 2024 marked the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), and the 35th anniversary of Taiwan’s sister-state agreement with New Jersey as well as the 25th with Connecticut. Deputy Secretary-General Chang continued by noting that the first agreement under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade came into effect on December 10, which was a major milestone for Taiwan-U.S. collaboration and a stepping stone for negotiating the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) in the future. He also mentioned that the east coast of the U.S. which borders the central Atlantic Ocean, where the visiting delegation came from, is a key global trade region, and therefore looked forward to more collaborations and investment opportunities between both sides in terms of AI, advanced technology, and military industry. Deputy Secretary-General Chang remarked on the trade and investment offices established by the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey in Taiwan, which can further deepen mutual partnerships and increase interactions between the governments and people of both nations.
Deputy Secretary-General Chang specifically thanked Representative Melissa Shusterman, along with 16 other state representatives, for their effort at the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2024 to pass a resolution that recognizes October 10 as the National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Pennsylvania, demonstrating the firm support from the U.S. to Taiwan. In addition, he mentioned that the current (11th) Legislative Yuan has received over 50 delegations from the U.S., including members from the Senate and House of Representatives, scholars from think tanks, assistants to Congress members, constituency directors, members of state legislatures, governors, and university teachers and students, totaling over 500 visitors from the U.S. government, academia, and all walks of life. He expressed that through bilateral exchanges, there can be more interactions and better mutual understanding, in hopes of more opportunities for future collaborations between the two nations in different fields.
In closing, Deputy Secretary-General Chang expressed his hope that after the new U.S. administration takes office in January 2025, there can be more visits and exchanges between the parliaments, state governments, and state legislatures of both nations. He also looked forward to more interactions between the two sides to build stronger partnerships, contributing to everlasting bilateral relations.
Both sides then engaged in an extensive exchange of views on various topics, including Taiwan's political system, the composition of members of the Legislative Yuan, and parliamentary procedures. The meeting was convened in a friendly and pleasant atmosphere, with both sides exchanging commemorative gifts and taking a group photo. After the meeting, the delegation, accompanied by staff from the Department of International Affairs, visited the Chamber Hall to listen to discussions over session affairs including seating arrangements, interpellations, debates, and voting methods. President Daniel K.Y. Han, presiding over the plenary sitting, specifically introduced the visiting delegation and waved his hand as a greeting. The visit concluded after approximately 90 minutes.