Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han hosts banquet in honor of delegation led by French National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee Secretary Estelle Youssouffa; President Han: Taiwan and France share the values of democracy and freedom, and continue deepening bilateral parliamentary exchanges and cooperation.
At noon on June 9, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜), accompanied by DPP Legislator Lin Chu-Yin, Chair of the Taiwan-France Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association; KMT Legislator Hsu Yu-Chen; and TPP Legislator Dr. Hsu Chung-Hsin, hosted a banquet in honor of a three-member delegation led by Estelle Youssouffa, Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly. The banquet was also attended by Secretary General Daniel Kuo-Ching Chen of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Director Cléa Le Cardeur of the French Office in Taipei.
On behalf of the Legislative Yuan, President Han opened by extending a sincere welcome to the delegation led by Secretary Youssouffa. He specifically mentioned that he had received Chair Marie-Noëlle Battistel of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group just two weeks ago, adding that welcoming friends from France once again fully demonstrated the growing vitality of parliamentary exchanges and the robust friendship between Taiwan and France.
President Han said that French and Taiwanese people have many similarities; both are hospitable and optimistic. He shared that when he led a delegation to visit the French National Assembly last month, the delegation was warmly received by the French side and came away with a strong sense of the growing momentum in the Taiwan-France friendship. Citing the Chinese saying, “First-time strangers, second-time friends,” he noted that interactions between the two sides have become as natural and familiar as those between old friends. President Han also thanked French friends for their long-standing assistance and support in speaking up for Taiwan in international settings. He then highlighted that although Taiwan has a limited landmass, it is a major technology hub. In recent years, he said, examples such as TSMC’s establishment of a new plant in Dresden, Germany, and Foxconn’s investments in France have demonstrated the continued deepening of industrial cooperation and economic and trade exchanges between Taiwan and Europe, especially France. President Han also noted that the Chinese character for France “法” (fă) symbolizes justice and fairness, and praised the country for its long-standing defense of the values of democracy and freedom. He then raised his glass to extend a sincere welcome to the delegation.
Secretary Youssouffa thanked President Han and the legislators in attendance for their warm hospitality and noted that she was pleased to visit Taiwan again and see many familiar faces. She noted that when President Han and the legislators visited the French National Assembly recently, the French side felt highly honored. Now, with the French delegation experiencing such warm hospitality in Taiwan, she noted that the friendship and mutual trust between the two sides have deepened even further.
Secretary Youssouffa expressed that Taiwan’s achievements in democratic development, technological innovation, and public governance were deeply impressive, and that the French Parliament highly valued its friendly relations with Taiwan. She emphasized that security in the Taiwan Strait concerns not only regional stability but also global security and prosperity. The visit to Taiwan, she said, was intended to convey the message to Taiwan that there have always been friends within the French National Assembly who firmly support Taiwan, and that both Taiwan and France share core values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.
Introducing the members of the delegation, Secretary Youssouffa noted that MP Thomas Gassilloud is an important member of the French National Assembly’s Defense Committee and has long focused on national defense and security issues. She also introduced MP Hanane Mansouri as one of the youngest members of the French National Assembly, noting that she represents a major technology hub in France that has a strong foundation for industrial cooperation with Taiwan. She expressed hope that parliamentary diplomacy would further promote Taiwan-France exchanges and encourage more Taiwanese enterprises to invest in France. Secretary Youssouffa also noted that the French overseas territory she represents is an island that, like Taiwan, has the characteristics of a maritime nation, giving her a particularly strong sense of affinity with Taiwan.
The two sides subsequently exchanged commemorative gifts and took a group photo, and began their luncheon exchange after raising their glasses in a toast. During the banquet, the two sides exchanged extensive views on Taiwan-France parliamentary exchanges, the Indo-Pacific security situation, cooperation among democratic countries, the resilience of technology supply chains, and economic and trade cooperation. The lunch banquet lasted approximately 90 minutes in a lively and cordial setting and concluded with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying the occasion. (2026/06/09)
On behalf of the Legislative Yuan, President Han opened by extending a sincere welcome to the delegation led by Secretary Youssouffa. He specifically mentioned that he had received Chair Marie-Noëlle Battistel of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group just two weeks ago, adding that welcoming friends from France once again fully demonstrated the growing vitality of parliamentary exchanges and the robust friendship between Taiwan and France.
President Han said that French and Taiwanese people have many similarities; both are hospitable and optimistic. He shared that when he led a delegation to visit the French National Assembly last month, the delegation was warmly received by the French side and came away with a strong sense of the growing momentum in the Taiwan-France friendship. Citing the Chinese saying, “First-time strangers, second-time friends,” he noted that interactions between the two sides have become as natural and familiar as those between old friends. President Han also thanked French friends for their long-standing assistance and support in speaking up for Taiwan in international settings. He then highlighted that although Taiwan has a limited landmass, it is a major technology hub. In recent years, he said, examples such as TSMC’s establishment of a new plant in Dresden, Germany, and Foxconn’s investments in France have demonstrated the continued deepening of industrial cooperation and economic and trade exchanges between Taiwan and Europe, especially France. President Han also noted that the Chinese character for France “法” (fă) symbolizes justice and fairness, and praised the country for its long-standing defense of the values of democracy and freedom. He then raised his glass to extend a sincere welcome to the delegation.
Secretary Youssouffa thanked President Han and the legislators in attendance for their warm hospitality and noted that she was pleased to visit Taiwan again and see many familiar faces. She noted that when President Han and the legislators visited the French National Assembly recently, the French side felt highly honored. Now, with the French delegation experiencing such warm hospitality in Taiwan, she noted that the friendship and mutual trust between the two sides have deepened even further.
Secretary Youssouffa expressed that Taiwan’s achievements in democratic development, technological innovation, and public governance were deeply impressive, and that the French Parliament highly valued its friendly relations with Taiwan. She emphasized that security in the Taiwan Strait concerns not only regional stability but also global security and prosperity. The visit to Taiwan, she said, was intended to convey the message to Taiwan that there have always been friends within the French National Assembly who firmly support Taiwan, and that both Taiwan and France share core values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.
Introducing the members of the delegation, Secretary Youssouffa noted that MP Thomas Gassilloud is an important member of the French National Assembly’s Defense Committee and has long focused on national defense and security issues. She also introduced MP Hanane Mansouri as one of the youngest members of the French National Assembly, noting that she represents a major technology hub in France that has a strong foundation for industrial cooperation with Taiwan. She expressed hope that parliamentary diplomacy would further promote Taiwan-France exchanges and encourage more Taiwanese enterprises to invest in France. Secretary Youssouffa also noted that the French overseas territory she represents is an island that, like Taiwan, has the characteristics of a maritime nation, giving her a particularly strong sense of affinity with Taiwan.
The two sides subsequently exchanged commemorative gifts and took a group photo, and began their luncheon exchange after raising their glasses in a toast. During the banquet, the two sides exchanged extensive views on Taiwan-France parliamentary exchanges, the Indo-Pacific security situation, cooperation among democratic countries, the resilience of technology supply chains, and economic and trade cooperation. The lunch banquet lasted approximately 90 minutes in a lively and cordial setting and concluded with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying the occasion. (2026/06/09)