On the afternoon of June 12, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han received a three-member delegation led by Dr. Eva Langerbeck, Executive Director of the German Trade Office Taipei. He was joined by KMT Legislator Dr. Weng Hsiao-Ling, DPP Legislator Chen Pei-Yu, TPP Legislator Mai Yu-Chen, and Director Kevin C.F. Lin of the Department of International Affairs.

President Han first warmly welcomed the guests and extended early birthday wishes to Executive Director Langerbeck, whose birthday falls next month. He continued by saying that since 2021, annual bilateral trade between Taiwan and Germany has exceeded USD 20 billion for four consecutive years. He also highlighted TSMC’s recent announcement—made at the TSMC 2025 Europe Technology Symposium in Amsterdam in late May—to establish a chip design center in Munich as a clear sign of deepening technological cooperation between the two countries.

President Han further remarked that the Taiwanese people hold Germany in high regard, not just because the character "德" in its Chinese name embodies morality, credibility, and noble character, but also due to Germany's global accomplishments in industrial manufacturing, literature, the arts, music, architecture, design, and football. He praised the scientific rigor, discipline, and strong reading culture of German society. President Han also emphasized Taiwan’s long-standing embrace of cultural diversity and pointed out that the presence of female legislators from all three major caucuses at today’s meeting exemplifies the Legislative Yuan’s progress in gender equality. He expressed hope that Executive Director Langerbeck will continue to promote all-level exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and Germany, thereby deepening bilateral relations and collectively ushering in a new phase of reciprocal benefit and common prosperity.

In response, Executive Director Langerbeck thanked President Han and the legislators from the three major political parties for their warm welcome despite their busy schedules. She explained that the German Trade Office Taipei represents the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad and the German industry in Taiwan. Having been established for over 40 years, the office’s core mission is to deepen Taiwan-Germany economic ties and promote bilateral trade and investment. Echoing President Han’s remarks, she cited TSMC’s investment in a new manufacturing plant in Germany as a prime example of bilateral collaboration, reflecting both sides’ commitment to industrial and technological advancement. She added that the office will continue to assist Taiwanese companies in visiting Germany and encourage their participation in international trade events such as semiconductor exhibitions to facilitate further exchanges. Executive Director Langerbeck also noted that over 90% of German companies with a presence in Taiwan have operated here for more than six years, with 65% having stayed for over 15 years—clear evidence of Germany’s long-term confidence and commitment to the Taiwanese market.

She acknowledged that Taiwan-Germany cooperation has not been without challenges, citing issues such as energy policies, tariffs, regulatory frameworks, and cross-strait relations. Therefore, she emphasized that today’s face-to-face exchange at the Legislative Yuan was especially meaningful. On the future direction of economic and trade cooperation between Taiwan and Germany, she noted that Germany and Taiwan are highly complementary in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), the semiconductor industry, green energy development, and machinery and automation technology, offering broad opportunities for deeper bilateral cooperation. She especially emphasized that Taiwan’s most valuable asset is its skilled workforce. To support industrial collaboration and talent development, Taiwan and Germany are jointly implementing the Semiconductor Talent Incubation Program Taiwan (STIPT), which annually selects around 30 students from top German universities to participate in a six-month academic and hands-on training program in Taiwan. She added that this initiative has helped deepen German students’ understanding of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry while laying the foundation for future bilateral cooperation and development.

During the exchange, Legislator Weng highlighted that Executive Director Langerbeck’s visit with her capable team underscored the growing closeness of Taiwan-Germany relations. She noted that Germany has long offered strong support to Taiwan in areas such as military, medicine, and science. In recent years, bilateral engagement has expanded to include education, culture, trade, and even judicial and legal systems. In particular, she cited Germany as a key role model for Taiwan in its energy transition. She expressed her hope that under President Han’s leadership, she would have the opportunity to visit Germany for on-site exchanges and draw from Germany’s experiences to promote legal reform and policymaking in the Legislative Yuan. She also mentioned that TSMC’s new plant in Dresden is expected to begin mass production in 2027, which is likely to lead to more Taiwanese professionals relocating there. She called on the German government to continue providing support to help Taiwanese engineers settle in and contribute to Dresden’s economic and technological growth—benefiting both countries.

Legislator Chen highlighted Germany’s achievements in transitional justice, particularly in its efforts to confront historical injustices, build institutional safeguards, and promote social reconciliation. These achievements, she said, represent not only milestones in Germany’s reform journey but also valuable models for other countries to follow. Emphasizing her long-term involvement in human rights education, she also mentioned her consistent visits to numerous German museums and libraries over the past five years, adding that during these visits she not only gained a deeper understanding of German history and culture but also observed how Taiwanese participants acquired valuable insights through bilateral exchanges, which they then put into practice back home. She expressed hope for further bilateral dialogue and collaboration in human rights, historical awareness, and cultural education.

Legislator Mai expressed her honor in welcoming Executive Director Langerbeck on behalf of the Taiwan People’s Party. She acknowledged that although Director Langerbeck’s new role will be challenging, it is nonetheless deeply meaningful—especially as Germany is Taiwan’s largest trading partner in Europe. Legislator Mai also thanked Germany for openly supporting Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) for three consecutive years since 2022, and for its long-standing concern and support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Echoing Executive Director Langerbeck’s emphasis on energy independence, she noted that Taiwan is currently at a pivotal stage in its energy transition and looks forward to deepening exchanges with Germany in this area to jointly promote sustainable development. She concluded by stating that each instance of Taiwan-Germany collaboration builds valuable experience, and she hopes that continued joint efforts will lead to even greater cooperation and mutual growth.

The two sides then engaged in a wide-ranging discussion on topics such as AI applications, energy transition, medical technology, aerospace development, and higher education exchanges. Wrapping up the meeting, President Han reaffirmed the Legislative Yuan’s readiness to serve as a key bridge in strengthening Taiwan-Germany relations and facilitating deeper cooperation in all areas. And from a perspective close to people's daily lives, he shared with Executive Director Langerbeck that while Taiwanese people are passionate about food, authentic German cuisine remains hard to find in Taiwan. He highlighted that food—like music and the arts—serves as a cultural bridge that can transcend language barriers and foster mutual understanding. He suggested that Taiwan could benefit from a platform to promote German cuisine and culture, thereby enhancing interactions, exchanges, and emotional ties between the Taiwanese and German people. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and concluded on a lively and cordial note with an exchange of commemorative gifts and a group photo.