On the afternoon of October 20, Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣) of the Legislative Yuan, accompanied by DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-Ying, KMT Legislator Dr. Alice Chang, and TPP Legislator Lin Yi-Chun, met with a five-member Australian cross-party parliamentary delegation led by MP Steve Georganas, who was accompanied by Mrs. Georganas.
Upon the delegation's arrival at the Legislative Yuan, staff from the Department of International Affairs first provided a guided tour of the Chamber. Subsequently, Vice President Chiang received the guests and took a group photo with the delegation and the attending legislators. In his remarks, Vice President Chiang stated that Australia is renowned for its welcoming people and magnificent natural landscapes, possessing rich natural resources and unique wildlife such as koalas, which are deeply loved by Taiwanese travelers. He noted that despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Australia, bilateral exchanges remain vibrant, and the bonds between the two peoples run deep. Vice President Chiang expressed special gratitude to the Australian Parliament for its long-term support of Taiwan and extended his sincere appreciation for the contributions of the "Australia-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group."
Vice President Chiang emphasized that the visiting parliamentarians are all key members of the Friendship Group who have long supported Taiwan and actively promoted Taiwan-Australia exchanges. He also mentioned that the Australian Parliament has passed friendly motions on a cross-party basis multiple times to support Taiwan’s participation in international affairs, demonstrating a solid friendship and a partnership based on shared values. Vice President Chiang further highlighted that stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo Pacific are issues of high concern to Australia, and emphasized that as Taiwan and Australia share democratic values and geopolitical interests, the foundation for bilateral cooperation is both solid and deep.
Regarding economic and trade cooperation, Vice President Chiang stated that Australia is rich in resources, while Taiwan possesses global competitive advantages in manufacturing and the semiconductor industry, making bilateral economic structures highly complementary. He noted that Australia’s “Future Made in Australia” policy aligns with Taiwan’s industrial development direction, which creates more opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation. He also mentioned that, in his capacity as Chair of the “Association of Overseas Taiwanese Businessmen” of the Legislative Yuan, he plans to lead a delegation to Sydney, Australia, next March to attend relevant events. He intends to invite cross-party legislators to join the trip to strengthen substantive exchanges between Taiwan and Australia.
MP Georganas thanked Vice President Chiang and the cross-party legislators for the warm reception. He emphasized that the delegation represents Australia's diverse political parties and regions, and aims to deepen understanding of Taiwan and strengthen bilateral cooperation. He pointed out that Taiwan has been an important trading partner for Australia since 1960, with bilateral trade growing steadily and showing great potential. Noting that Taiwan is a crucial market for Australian natural gas, coal, and minerals, he expressed hope that both sides could establish closer long-term cooperation and work together to promote the transition to renewable energy.
Addressing the regional political situation, MP Georganas emphasized that dialogue and cooperation are key to resolving differences. He affirmed Australia's commitment to seeking more like-minded partners to jointly maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. He also believes that, in addition to official channels, people-to-people exchanges are an essential cornerstone for deepening bilateral relations.
During the bilateral exchange, Legislator Chiu extended a sincere welcome and recalled her experience studying in Australia 30 years ago, expressing her deep affection for the country. She pointed out that Kaohsiung boasts a developed agricultural sector and holds significant potential for cooperation with Australia in fields such as agriculture, education, and trade. Citing a concrete example, she noted that Australia granted plant breeder’s rights for four Taiwanese lychee varieties last month, demonstrating that Taiwan-Australia agricultural cooperation has already yielded substantive results.
Legislator Chang noted that she hails from Yunlin, a major agricultural county, and emphasized the high complementarity between Taiwan and Australia in agricultural development and technological exchanges. She also expressed concern regarding the impact of U.S. tariff policies on the global, Taiwanese, and Australian economies, calling for both sides to continuously strengthen trade and energy cooperation.
Legislator Lin also warmly welcomed the delegation, emphasizing that the delegation's visit signifies the high importance the Australian Parliament places on Taiwan. She shared her unforgettable experience diving in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, highlighting the deep foundation of civilian exchanges between the two countries. She hoped that the delegation would immerse themselves in Taiwan's culture and local customs during this trip, thereby further promoting the friendship between the people of Taiwan and Australia.
Both sides subsequently exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), regional security, Taiwan-Australia political and economic cooperation, U.S. tariffs and international trade, as well as agriculture and energy. The meeting, which lasted approximately one hour, was conducted in a warm and friendly atmosphere, and concluded successfully following the exchange of commemorative gifts and a group photo.
