On the afternoon of April 9, Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Dr. Johnny C. Chiang, accompanied by KMT Legislator Chen Yeong-Kang, DPP Legislator Kuo Yu-Ching, TPP Legislator Mai Yu-Chen, and International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin, met with and hosted a luncheon in honor of a four-member delegation from the Luxembourg Parliament. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-Chi and Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of European Affairs Lin Chu-En were also in attendance.

Vice President Chiang began by warmly welcoming the visiting delegation. After joining the attending legislators and guests for a group photo, he expressed that it was a great honor to receive the friends from the Luxembourg Parliament on behalf of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its President Daniel K.Y. Han. He went on to note that this visit marked the first delegation from the Luxembourg Parliament to the Legislative Yuan in six years, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. It also represents the first official delegation to Taiwan composed of newly elected members of Luxembourg’s Parliament since its 2023 elections. He expressed hope that this parliamentary exchange would strengthen bilateral cooperation and further deepen the friendship between Taiwan and Luxembourg. He praised Luxembourg as a small country in terms of land area within Europe, yet one that boasts the highest GDP per capita in the world at USD 140,000. With a highly developed financial sector, Luxembourg stands as one of the most significant international financial centers in the Eurozone. Its world-class economic strength and strategic geographic location have attracted numerous EU institutions to establish a presence there, earning it the distinguished title of the “Heart of Europe.” Vice President Chiang likewise remarked that Taiwan, though a small nation in Asia, plays a critical role in the Indo-Pacific geopolitical landscape, and could similarly be regarded as the “Heart of Asia.” He noted that bilateral trade between Taiwan and Luxembourg reached USD 93.45 million last year, representing a 49.65% increase compared to the previous year. This growth highlights the strong potential of bilateral trade, and he expressed hope that economic and trade cooperation will continue to deepen in the future. Vice President Chiang further stated that, in light of the United States’ newly introduced tariff policies and shifting global dynamics, Taiwan and Luxembourg should join hands to foster sustainable economic development and shared prosperity in the face of an uncertain future. Vice President Chiang expressed his sincere gratitude to the Luxembourg Parliament and government for their steadfast and tangible support in recent years for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Health Assembly (WHA), and other related international bodies and mechanisms. He also thanked Luxembourg for standing with Taiwan in upholding the core values of democracy and freedom. In closing, he expressed his hope that Luxembourg will continue to support Taiwan’s international participation, further deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and wished the delegation a smooth and fruitful visit to Taiwan.

The head of the delegation, Member of Parliament Stéphanie Weydert, thanked Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for taking the time to meet with them. She noted that this was the first visit to Taiwan for herself and the three other members of the delegation, and that she was delighted to lead the youngest parliamentary delegation from Luxembourg to Taiwan. She expressed deep admiration for Taiwan’s impressive development and the warmth and friendliness of its people. In response to Vice President Chiang’s earlier remarks regarding the new tariff measures introduced by the U.S. administration, MP Weydert concurred that the future is indeed unpredictable. While both Taiwan and Luxembourg are small in size, she affirmed that—as the respective “hearts” of Asia and Europe—the two countries possess strong economic foundations. She welcomed the growing exchanges between Taiwanese and Luxembourgish enterprises and other sectors, and expressed her hope for continued cooperation that can bring mutual benefits and a shared future. She also emphasized that Taiwan and Luxembourg share common values such as human rights and democracy, and should work together to safeguard the hard-won freedoms and peaceful way of life that both nations cherish.

Following the exchange of gifts, the two sides proceeded to a luncheon, during which they engaged in wide-ranging discussions on a variety of topics. These included comparisons between the political and electoral systems of Taiwan and Luxembourg, the European Parliament’s electoral system, employment, study, working holiday, and immigration policies for foreigners in Luxembourg, financial regulation and anti-fraud measures, Taiwan’s international participation, cross-border cooperation, cultural exchanges, strategies for addressing declining birth rates and population aging, as well as efforts to deepen bilateral economic and investment ties. The luncheon lasted approximately two hours in a relaxed and cordial atmosphere, with both hosts and guests enjoying warm and engaging conversations, bringing the day’s meeting to a successful and memorable close.