Legislative Yuan Vice President Johnny C. Chiang meets with delegation from the Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group; Vice President Chiang: We are grateful for the Italian Parliament’s growing support for Taiwan in recent years and its commitment to upholding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
On the afternoon of September 5, Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) received a nine-member delegation from the Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group. He was accompanied by KMT Legislator Dr. Hsieh Yi-Fong, DPP Legislator Dr. Wang Cheng-Hsu, International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin, and Representative Marco Lombardi of the Italian Economic, Trade, and Cultural Promotion Office in Taipei.
In his remarks, Vice President Chiang first extended a sincere welcome to the visiting delegates on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜), and joined the attending legislators and delegation members for a commemorative photo. Vice President Chiang noted that this is the third visit by members of the Italian Parliament received by the current (11th) legislature, adding that in July 2024, he led a cross-party delegation composed of members from the “Taiwan-Czech and Taiwan-Austria Parliamentary Amity Association” and the “Republic of China (Taiwan)-Spain Parliamentary Amity Association” on a visit to Europe. Vice President Chiang said that during the trip, in addition to visiting the “Taipei Representative Office in Milan,” which officially began operations in October 2023, the delegation also received a warm welcome and thoughtful arrangements from Chairman Adriano Paroli during their visit to Rome. He stressed that the frequent exchanges between the two sides have left a deep impression of the strong friendship between the Taiwanese and Italian parliaments.
Vice President Chiang continued by saying that over the past three years, the Italian Parliament has gradually strengthened its friendship and support for Taiwan, particularly through its active efforts to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He noted that members of the Chamber of Deputies across party lines unanimously passed a resolution supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO), urging the Italian government to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA), and related technical meetings of the WHO. Vice President Chiang mentioned that in March 2025, the Italian Chamber of Deputies finished the “Final Report on the Investigation Concerning Italy’s and Other European Countries’ Influence in the Indo-Pacific Region.” He added that the report not only cited the pro-Taiwan resolution passed by the Chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee in September last year, but also reiterated support for Taiwan, emphasizing that Taiwan should be able to participate meaningfully in international organizations under the United Nations, including the WHO, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In addition, the Italian Parliament once again reaffirmed the Italian government’s firm stance in supporting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating its determination to work with Taiwan to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Vice President Chiang hence took the meeting as the opportunity to express his heartfelt gratitude to the delegation for their support.
Vice President Chiang further pointed out that in 2023, Italy became Taiwan’s third-largest trading partner within the European Union. Projects such as the expansion of Globalwafers’ facilities (a major Taiwanese wafer manufacturer) in northern Italy have also strengthened bilateral cooperation. He also mentioned that following the launch of direct flights between Taipei and Milan in 2022, exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and Italy in fields such as trade, industry, and AI technology have continued to grow. Vice President Chiang expressed hope that both sides will continue to deepen supply chain cooperation in high-tech sectors and share relevant technologies and achievements. Vice President Chiang concluded by noting that Taiwan and Italy share common traits—warm and friendly people and a rich and diverse culinary culture—and he expressed his hope that parliamentary diplomacy could serve as a bridge to enhance bilateral friendship, promote closer exchanges, and create a mutually beneficial relationship.
Chairman Paroli thanked Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for taking the time to meet with the delegates. Chairman Paroli said that since meeting Vice President Chiang and his delegation in Italy last year, he has been committed to promoting more frequent exchanges between the two sides. Chairman Paroli said that the parliamentarians in this visit to Taiwan come from different political parties and constituencies in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, representing diverse regions of Italy; he hoped that upon returning to Italy, the delegation members could help create more opportunities for cooperation between different regions of Italy and Taiwan in fields such as trade and investment, culture and the arts, technology, and cuisine. Chairman Paroli also expressed his hope to encourage Taiwanese enterprises to invest and establish factories in central and southern Italy, creating job opportunities and improving the livelihoods of people in both countries, while using economic prosperity as an important cornerstone for maintaining regional peace. Moreover, Chairman Paroli emphasized that, like other member states of the European Union and NATO, Italy pays close attention to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, and added that members of the Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group will continue to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and speak up for Taiwan on the international stage.
During the exchange, Legislator Hsieh first extended a warm welcome to the delegation, noting that she had visited Italy several times in the past and was deeply impressed by the country’s beautiful scenery and rich cultural heritage. She remarked that Italy is a country much loved by the Taiwanese people and expressed hope that, on the basis of existing trade relations, both sides could broaden cooperation in areas such as gastronomy, arts, culture, and tourism.
Legislator Wang sincerely welcomed the delegation’s visit to Taiwan and said that in the face of global changes and rising regional tensions, exchanges between parliamentarians demonstrate the close and profound ties between Taiwan and Italy, and bring warmth to the people of Taiwan. As a medical professional specializing in cancer treatment, he shared his practical experience on three professional topics: the National Health Insurance and public health service systems, the Healthy Taiwan initiative, and Taiwan’s strengths in the medical device industry, smart healthcare, and pharmaceutical resilience. Legislator Wang expressed hope that in the post-pandemic era and amid rapidly changing international circumstances, Taiwan could work more closely with Italy and other like-minded countries to promote and develop cooperation in medical technology and healthcare resilience.
Both sides then engaged in extensive discussions on issues including political and economic relations in the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan’s democratic development, and the international economic and trade situation. The meeting lasted approximately one hour in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, and concluded successfully with the exchange of gifts and a commemorative group photo.
In his remarks, Vice President Chiang first extended a sincere welcome to the visiting delegates on behalf of the Legislative Yuan and its President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜), and joined the attending legislators and delegation members for a commemorative photo. Vice President Chiang noted that this is the third visit by members of the Italian Parliament received by the current (11th) legislature, adding that in July 2024, he led a cross-party delegation composed of members from the “Taiwan-Czech and Taiwan-Austria Parliamentary Amity Association” and the “Republic of China (Taiwan)-Spain Parliamentary Amity Association” on a visit to Europe. Vice President Chiang said that during the trip, in addition to visiting the “Taipei Representative Office in Milan,” which officially began operations in October 2023, the delegation also received a warm welcome and thoughtful arrangements from Chairman Adriano Paroli during their visit to Rome. He stressed that the frequent exchanges between the two sides have left a deep impression of the strong friendship between the Taiwanese and Italian parliaments.
Vice President Chiang continued by saying that over the past three years, the Italian Parliament has gradually strengthened its friendship and support for Taiwan, particularly through its active efforts to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He noted that members of the Chamber of Deputies across party lines unanimously passed a resolution supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO), urging the Italian government to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA), and related technical meetings of the WHO. Vice President Chiang mentioned that in March 2025, the Italian Chamber of Deputies finished the “Final Report on the Investigation Concerning Italy’s and Other European Countries’ Influence in the Indo-Pacific Region.” He added that the report not only cited the pro-Taiwan resolution passed by the Chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee in September last year, but also reiterated support for Taiwan, emphasizing that Taiwan should be able to participate meaningfully in international organizations under the United Nations, including the WHO, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In addition, the Italian Parliament once again reaffirmed the Italian government’s firm stance in supporting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating its determination to work with Taiwan to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Vice President Chiang hence took the meeting as the opportunity to express his heartfelt gratitude to the delegation for their support.
Vice President Chiang further pointed out that in 2023, Italy became Taiwan’s third-largest trading partner within the European Union. Projects such as the expansion of Globalwafers’ facilities (a major Taiwanese wafer manufacturer) in northern Italy have also strengthened bilateral cooperation. He also mentioned that following the launch of direct flights between Taipei and Milan in 2022, exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and Italy in fields such as trade, industry, and AI technology have continued to grow. Vice President Chiang expressed hope that both sides will continue to deepen supply chain cooperation in high-tech sectors and share relevant technologies and achievements. Vice President Chiang concluded by noting that Taiwan and Italy share common traits—warm and friendly people and a rich and diverse culinary culture—and he expressed his hope that parliamentary diplomacy could serve as a bridge to enhance bilateral friendship, promote closer exchanges, and create a mutually beneficial relationship.
Chairman Paroli thanked Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for taking the time to meet with the delegates. Chairman Paroli said that since meeting Vice President Chiang and his delegation in Italy last year, he has been committed to promoting more frequent exchanges between the two sides. Chairman Paroli said that the parliamentarians in this visit to Taiwan come from different political parties and constituencies in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, representing diverse regions of Italy; he hoped that upon returning to Italy, the delegation members could help create more opportunities for cooperation between different regions of Italy and Taiwan in fields such as trade and investment, culture and the arts, technology, and cuisine. Chairman Paroli also expressed his hope to encourage Taiwanese enterprises to invest and establish factories in central and southern Italy, creating job opportunities and improving the livelihoods of people in both countries, while using economic prosperity as an important cornerstone for maintaining regional peace. Moreover, Chairman Paroli emphasized that, like other member states of the European Union and NATO, Italy pays close attention to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, and added that members of the Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group will continue to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and speak up for Taiwan on the international stage.
During the exchange, Legislator Hsieh first extended a warm welcome to the delegation, noting that she had visited Italy several times in the past and was deeply impressed by the country’s beautiful scenery and rich cultural heritage. She remarked that Italy is a country much loved by the Taiwanese people and expressed hope that, on the basis of existing trade relations, both sides could broaden cooperation in areas such as gastronomy, arts, culture, and tourism.
Legislator Wang sincerely welcomed the delegation’s visit to Taiwan and said that in the face of global changes and rising regional tensions, exchanges between parliamentarians demonstrate the close and profound ties between Taiwan and Italy, and bring warmth to the people of Taiwan. As a medical professional specializing in cancer treatment, he shared his practical experience on three professional topics: the National Health Insurance and public health service systems, the Healthy Taiwan initiative, and Taiwan’s strengths in the medical device industry, smart healthcare, and pharmaceutical resilience. Legislator Wang expressed hope that in the post-pandemic era and amid rapidly changing international circumstances, Taiwan could work more closely with Italy and other like-minded countries to promote and develop cooperation in medical technology and healthcare resilience.
Both sides then engaged in extensive discussions on issues including political and economic relations in the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan’s democratic development, and the international economic and trade situation. The meeting lasted approximately one hour in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, and concluded successfully with the exchange of gifts and a commemorative group photo.