Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han receives a delegation led by County Executive Marc Elrich of Montgomery County, Maryland; President Han: Taiwan looks forward to working hand in hand with Montgomery County to promote sustainable development and smart cities
On the afternoon of March 20, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han, accompanied by KMT Legislator Lin Chien-Chi, DPP Legislator Chen Pei-Yu, TPP Legislator Mai Yu-Chen, and Deputy Director Yang Fang-Ling of the Department of International Affairs, received a five-member delegation led by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, who were visiting Taiwan to attend the Smart City Summit & Expo.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to the visiting guests. After taking a group photo with the attending legislators and delegation members, he remarked that during he led a cross-party delegation to attend the 60th U.S. Presidential Inauguration this January, during which he had the pleasure of meeting County Executive Elrich for the first time. He expressed his delight at being able to meet Mr. Elrich again in Taiwan two months later. He went on to note that the state of Maryland ranks third in the U.S for median household income. Taiwan and Maryland enjoy active bilateral trade relations. Montgomery County, in particular, is ethnically diverse and is one of Maryland’s most populous and economically developed counties. He further explained that the Legislative Yuan operates under a unicameral system, consisting of 113 members from three political parties. The legislators present today represent different groups and fields, showcasing the diversity of Taiwan’s democratic politics. He expressed that he looked forward to this opportunity to engage in various exchanges with the visiting delegation.
County Executive Elrich first expressed his gratitude to President Han for the warm welcome and for taking the time to receive his delegation. He went on to state that Asian people account for 13% of Montgomery County’s population currently, a rapid increase compared to less than 0.5% fifty years ago. Many Asian individuals work in the Maryland’s thriving technology industry, performing exceptionally well and often standing out in their communities. He said that this is his third time participating in the Smart City Summit & Expo in Taiwan, and each visit has been highly rewarding. Just a few days ago, he signed a friendship city-county agreement with Taipei City and hopes that Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in technology and trade can be further strengthened in the future. He once again thanked President Han for taking the time to receive the delegation, making this visit to Taiwan even more meaningful.
During the bilateral exchanges, Legislator Lin Chien-Chi expressed her pleasure at the opportunity to meet with the visiting delegation. She noted that Taiwan has been recognized as a Smart City since as early as 2012, and has continued to make improvements and excel in this field in recent years. She explained that her focus lies in the fields of education and culture, and she has observed that culture and technology can complement each other. Therefore, Taiwan and Montgomery County can share insights on sustainability of and innovation in democratic values. She expressed hope for more opportunities for exchanges in the future and wished the delegation a smooth and successful visit.
Legislator Chen Pei-Yu stated that both innovation and technology come from quality education, and she hopes that Taiwan and the U.S. will have more cooperation across various fields in the future. She expressed her gratitude for the U.S.’ longstanding and unwavering support for democratic Taiwan, and firmly believed that freedom and democracy are the key to ensuring a better quality of life for future generations. She hoped the visiting delegation would take the opportunity to experience Taiwan’s distinctive culture, arts, and cuisine, and deeply feel the island’s rich diversity.
Legislator Mai Yu-Chen noted that although Taiwan and the United States are geographically distant, they share common democratic values. The U.S. is a core country for the development of technology and the biotechnology industry, while Taiwan plays a vital role in the global semiconductor industry. She hopes that Taiwan and the U.S. will continue to deepen cooperation moving forward. She stated that both Taiwan and the U.S. are countries built by immigrants and marked by great inclusiveness. She praised the U.S. for its immigration policies, cultural inclusiveness, and successful integration of diverse ethnic groups. In closing, she wished the visiting delegation a fruitful and rewarding visit.
The two sides also engaged in extensive discussions on a wide range of topics, including technology and economic development, smart cities, the biotechnology industry, clean energy, cybersecurity, immigration policies, and diverse cities. The meeting lasted approximately 40 minutes and was conducted in a warm and cordial atmosphere. It concluded successfully with an exchange of gifts between the two sides.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to the visiting guests. After taking a group photo with the attending legislators and delegation members, he remarked that during he led a cross-party delegation to attend the 60th U.S. Presidential Inauguration this January, during which he had the pleasure of meeting County Executive Elrich for the first time. He expressed his delight at being able to meet Mr. Elrich again in Taiwan two months later. He went on to note that the state of Maryland ranks third in the U.S for median household income. Taiwan and Maryland enjoy active bilateral trade relations. Montgomery County, in particular, is ethnically diverse and is one of Maryland’s most populous and economically developed counties. He further explained that the Legislative Yuan operates under a unicameral system, consisting of 113 members from three political parties. The legislators present today represent different groups and fields, showcasing the diversity of Taiwan’s democratic politics. He expressed that he looked forward to this opportunity to engage in various exchanges with the visiting delegation.
County Executive Elrich first expressed his gratitude to President Han for the warm welcome and for taking the time to receive his delegation. He went on to state that Asian people account for 13% of Montgomery County’s population currently, a rapid increase compared to less than 0.5% fifty years ago. Many Asian individuals work in the Maryland’s thriving technology industry, performing exceptionally well and often standing out in their communities. He said that this is his third time participating in the Smart City Summit & Expo in Taiwan, and each visit has been highly rewarding. Just a few days ago, he signed a friendship city-county agreement with Taipei City and hopes that Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in technology and trade can be further strengthened in the future. He once again thanked President Han for taking the time to receive the delegation, making this visit to Taiwan even more meaningful.
During the bilateral exchanges, Legislator Lin Chien-Chi expressed her pleasure at the opportunity to meet with the visiting delegation. She noted that Taiwan has been recognized as a Smart City since as early as 2012, and has continued to make improvements and excel in this field in recent years. She explained that her focus lies in the fields of education and culture, and she has observed that culture and technology can complement each other. Therefore, Taiwan and Montgomery County can share insights on sustainability of and innovation in democratic values. She expressed hope for more opportunities for exchanges in the future and wished the delegation a smooth and successful visit.
Legislator Chen Pei-Yu stated that both innovation and technology come from quality education, and she hopes that Taiwan and the U.S. will have more cooperation across various fields in the future. She expressed her gratitude for the U.S.’ longstanding and unwavering support for democratic Taiwan, and firmly believed that freedom and democracy are the key to ensuring a better quality of life for future generations. She hoped the visiting delegation would take the opportunity to experience Taiwan’s distinctive culture, arts, and cuisine, and deeply feel the island’s rich diversity.
Legislator Mai Yu-Chen noted that although Taiwan and the United States are geographically distant, they share common democratic values. The U.S. is a core country for the development of technology and the biotechnology industry, while Taiwan plays a vital role in the global semiconductor industry. She hopes that Taiwan and the U.S. will continue to deepen cooperation moving forward. She stated that both Taiwan and the U.S. are countries built by immigrants and marked by great inclusiveness. She praised the U.S. for its immigration policies, cultural inclusiveness, and successful integration of diverse ethnic groups. In closing, she wished the visiting delegation a fruitful and rewarding visit.
The two sides also engaged in extensive discussions on a wide range of topics, including technology and economic development, smart cities, the biotechnology industry, clean energy, cybersecurity, immigration policies, and diverse cities. The meeting lasted approximately 40 minutes and was conducted in a warm and cordial atmosphere. It concluded successfully with an exchange of gifts between the two sides.