Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han attends the Formosa Club Annual Conference 2025 Taipei - Reception; President Han: Democracy thrives with friends, and freedom flourishes with partners.
On the evening of October 27, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) attended Formosa Club Annual Conference 2025 Taipei - Reception at the invitation of the organizers. The grand event was graced by the participation of 42 members of the European Parliament from 18 European countries. Distinguished guests in attendance included Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啓臣), KMT legislators Dr. Ko Chih-En and Adm. Chen Yeong-Kang, DPP legislators Lin Chu-Yin, Kuo Yu-Ching, and Wu Pei-Yi, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amb. François Chihchung Wu, along with ambassadors, representatives, and dignitaries from the diplomatic community in Taiwan.
Following the opening remarks by the Chair of the Annual Conference, President Han was invited to the stage to deliver a speech. President Han remarked that it was a great honor to represent the Legislative Yuan at the Formosa Club Annual Conference 2025 Taipei - Reception. He noted that today’s gathering embodied our profound conviction that, “democracy thrives with friends, and freedom flourishes with partners.” He stressed that Taiwan and Europe are separated by great geographical distance and differ significantly in population and territory, but our common belief in democracy and our shared love for freedom have enabled us to transcend physical boundaries and forge a genuine friendship.
President Han went on to mention that since the founding of the Formosa Club in 2019, our European friends have consistently stood side by side with Taiwan, and that through concrete actions such as adopting resolutions and openly voicing support of Taiwan, they have steadfastly supported Taiwan’s international participation and safeguarded peace across the Taiwan Strait, for which he expressed his profound gratitude. President Han pointed out that in the midst of the current turbulent global dynamics, marked by the protracted war between Russia and Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific, we are reminded more than ever that the destinies of Taiwan and Europe are closely intertwined. He affirmed that in the face of mounting challenges and threats, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities, and expressed hope that Taiwan’s democratic partners in Europe will extend their fullest support to help safeguard Taiwan’s democratic institutions and way of life, and to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.
President Han added that in recent years, economic and trade exchanges as well as industrial collaboration between Taiwan and Europe have flourished. He mentioned the EU is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner, with annual bilateral trade amounting to US$70 billion. He highlighted that in terms of investment, the EU is Taiwan’s largest source of foreign capital, and that over the past five years, Taiwan’s investment in Europe has exceeded the cumulative total of the previous forty years. President Han expressed his confidence that in the future, industries across Taiwan and Europe will be even more closely interconnected.
He reiterated that Taiwan has a unicameral parliamentary system, and that the Legislative Yuan consists of 113 legislators entrusted with the responsibility of drafting laws and shaping major policies, underscoring the essential role of every legislator. He emphasized that since assuming office in 2024, he has been devoted to uniting cross-party legislators in advancing parliamentary diplomacy, and to date he has received 108 European delegations and nearly 750 European visitors. He noted that in September of this year, Vice President Chiang led a cross-party delegation to Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, thereby taking concrete actions to deepen the friendship between Taiwan and Europe.
In conclusion, President Han invoked an old saying: “A neighbor nearby is better than a relative far away.” He stated that although Taiwan is situated in East Asia, it has a strong sense of affinity toward Europe, and the people of Taiwan hold Europe in high regard. He expressed hope that Taiwan and Europe will continue to strengthen exchanges and become good friends, while extending his wishes of prosperity, success, and peace to all the distinguished guests attending the event.
Following the address delivered by MOFA Deputy Minister Wu, the organizers invited the guests to raise their glasses in celebration and to join in a commemorative group photo, after which the reception formally commenced. President Han, Vice President Chiang, the legislators, and the guests engaged in lively interactions in a warm and amicable setting, marked by friendship and celebration. The event lasted for about two hours and came to a successful close.
Following the opening remarks by the Chair of the Annual Conference, President Han was invited to the stage to deliver a speech. President Han remarked that it was a great honor to represent the Legislative Yuan at the Formosa Club Annual Conference 2025 Taipei - Reception. He noted that today’s gathering embodied our profound conviction that, “democracy thrives with friends, and freedom flourishes with partners.” He stressed that Taiwan and Europe are separated by great geographical distance and differ significantly in population and territory, but our common belief in democracy and our shared love for freedom have enabled us to transcend physical boundaries and forge a genuine friendship.
President Han went on to mention that since the founding of the Formosa Club in 2019, our European friends have consistently stood side by side with Taiwan, and that through concrete actions such as adopting resolutions and openly voicing support of Taiwan, they have steadfastly supported Taiwan’s international participation and safeguarded peace across the Taiwan Strait, for which he expressed his profound gratitude. President Han pointed out that in the midst of the current turbulent global dynamics, marked by the protracted war between Russia and Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific, we are reminded more than ever that the destinies of Taiwan and Europe are closely intertwined. He affirmed that in the face of mounting challenges and threats, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities, and expressed hope that Taiwan’s democratic partners in Europe will extend their fullest support to help safeguard Taiwan’s democratic institutions and way of life, and to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.
President Han added that in recent years, economic and trade exchanges as well as industrial collaboration between Taiwan and Europe have flourished. He mentioned the EU is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner, with annual bilateral trade amounting to US$70 billion. He highlighted that in terms of investment, the EU is Taiwan’s largest source of foreign capital, and that over the past five years, Taiwan’s investment in Europe has exceeded the cumulative total of the previous forty years. President Han expressed his confidence that in the future, industries across Taiwan and Europe will be even more closely interconnected.
He reiterated that Taiwan has a unicameral parliamentary system, and that the Legislative Yuan consists of 113 legislators entrusted with the responsibility of drafting laws and shaping major policies, underscoring the essential role of every legislator. He emphasized that since assuming office in 2024, he has been devoted to uniting cross-party legislators in advancing parliamentary diplomacy, and to date he has received 108 European delegations and nearly 750 European visitors. He noted that in September of this year, Vice President Chiang led a cross-party delegation to Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, thereby taking concrete actions to deepen the friendship between Taiwan and Europe.
In conclusion, President Han invoked an old saying: “A neighbor nearby is better than a relative far away.” He stated that although Taiwan is situated in East Asia, it has a strong sense of affinity toward Europe, and the people of Taiwan hold Europe in high regard. He expressed hope that Taiwan and Europe will continue to strengthen exchanges and become good friends, while extending his wishes of prosperity, success, and peace to all the distinguished guests attending the event.
Following the address delivered by MOFA Deputy Minister Wu, the organizers invited the guests to raise their glasses in celebration and to join in a commemorative group photo, after which the reception formally commenced. President Han, Vice President Chiang, the legislators, and the guests engaged in lively interactions in a warm and amicable setting, marked by friendship and celebration. The event lasted for about two hours and came to a successful close.