韓國瑜：盼加拿大支持台灣加入CPTPP共促跨太平洋地區進步與繁榮
President Daniel K.Y. Han: “It is hoped that Canada could support Taiwan’s participation in the CPTPP; together, we could contribute to the progress and prosperity in the trans-Pacific region.”
立法院韓國瑜院長於本(3月28)日下午在本院徐巧芯委員、莊瑞雄委員、張啓楷委員、周萬來秘書長、國際事務處林晨富處長等人陪同下，接見「加拿大駐台北貿易辦事處」倪傑民代表一行5人。
On the afternoon of Mach 28, President Daniel K.Y. Han of the Legislative Yuan received a courtesy call from Canadian Representative to Taiwan- Executive Director Jim Nickel, along with four members of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei. The President was accompanied by Legislators Hsu Chiao-hsin, Chuang Jui-hsiung, Chang Chi-kai; Secretary-General Chou Chester W.L.; International Affairs Department Director Kevin C.F. Lin.
院長首先誠摯歡迎訪賓，並偕出席委員與訪賓合影後展開雙邊會談。院長提及，我國人民對加拿大的印象普遍良好，加國不僅幅員遼闊、風景秀麗、物產豐富，加國人民更如心中都有一個小孩般的純樸、善良。我國與加拿大貿易往來密切，雙方互為重要貿易夥伴，兩國於去（2023）年簽署「投資促進及保障協議」（FIPA），貿易額亦突破120億加元，今年加國擔任「跨太平洋夥伴全面進步協定」（CPTPP）的輪值主席國，盼加國政府能支持台灣加入CPTPP並向各會員國傳達我國之期盼，以共同促進跨太平洋地區的進步與繁榮。
President Han first extended a sincere welcome to the visiting guests, followed by group photos of the attending legislators and distinguished guests, before engaging in bilateral talks. President Han stated that the people in Taiwan have a good impression of Canada, which boasts a vast territory, beautiful scenery, and a fortune of resources, coupled with Canadian people known for their kindness and simplicity with a childlike heart. Taiwan and Canada have close ties as key trading partners to each other. The Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) between the two nations was signed on in 2023, with the trade volume exceeding 12 billion Canadian dollars. As Canada chairs the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission in 2024, it is hoped that the Canadian Government could support Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP and convey such bid to other member states, so that we could all contribute to the progress and prosperity in the trans-Pacific region.
President Han first extended a sincere welcome to the visiting guests, followed by group photos of the attending legislators and distinguished guests, before engaging in bilateral talks. President Han stated that the people in Taiwan have a good impression of Canada, which boasts a vast territory, beautiful scenery, and a fortune of resources, coupled with Canadian people known for their kindness and simplicity with a childlike heart. Taiwan and Canada have close ties as key trading partners to each other. The Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) between the two nations was signed on in 2023, with the trade volume exceeding 12 billion Canadian dollars. As Canada chairs the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission in 2024, it is hoped that the Canadian Government could support Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP and convey such bid to other member states, so that we could all contribute to the progress and prosperity in the trans-Pacific region.
倪傑民代表首先感謝院長及三黨團委員撥冗接見，並恭賀院長榮膺新職。他表示是一年半前奉調來台，也是首次派駐台灣服務，對台灣人民熱情開放與多元並存的社會印象深刻，認為台灣是一個宜居之地。繼稱，台加兩國基於共享的民主價值，雙方友誼歷久彌新，不僅民間交流已有幾十年的深厚基礎，在各個領域的合作也逐步深化廣化。近年來兩國更在貿易、科技、投資等領域有飛速的進展，盼能透過「投資促進及保障協議」，鼓勵更多台人至加國投資，反之亦然。此外，加國正與我國經濟部洽簽「供應鏈韌性架構協議」，他非常樂見這些發展，而台灣經濟體制完善，也是推動自由貿易的典範，加國非常歡迎我國申請加入CPTPP，並預期台灣的加入將有助於促進區域內自由、公平及以規則為基礎的貿易。
In his remarks, Executive Director Nickel first thanked President Han and the attending cross-party legislators for taking the time to receive him and members of the Canadian Trade Office, followed by congratulating President Han for taking the office at the Legislative Yuan. Executive Director Nickel stated that when he was assigned to Taiwan a year and a half ago, it was also his first time serving in Taiwan. He is deeply impressed by the warm, open, and diverse society of Taiwan and convinced that Taiwan is a livable place. Taiwan and Canada, based on shared values in democracy, have a long history of friendship, with not only people-to-people exchanges with a solid foundation for decades, but also collaborations in various fields that have become more frequent and dynamic. In recent years, the two nations have made rapid progress in trade, technology, and investment; it is hoped that through the signed FIPA, more entrepreneurs from Taiwan could visit Canada for investments, and vice versa. In addition, Canada authorities are now working with Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on the details of signing the Collaborative Framework on Supply Chain Resilience. Executive Director Nickel expressed his hope to see these agreements in place and pointed out that Taiwan boasts a dynamic capitalist economy with highly developed free markets. Canada would very much like to see Taiwan’s bid to join the CPTPP, and it is expected that Taiwan’s participation will facilitate regional trade activities that are free, fair, and rules-based.
倪代表接續表示，台加兩國在公民社會、韌性發展、關鍵基礎設施、錯假訊息與網路攻擊等威脅民主的外來因素等領域，也有莫大的合作空間。並進一步分享稱，台加兩國文化、教育交流也十分熱絡，在其駐台的18個月內已在我國不同城市舉辦了28場文藝活動，盼藉此增進台灣人民對加國文化的瞭解，也非常歡迎我方前往加國推廣台灣特色文化，加深加國人民對台灣的認識。最後，倪代表提及台加兩國都有廣大的原住民人口，邀請院長及委員參加將於4月16日在高雄市舉辦的「世界原住民觀光高峰會」，屆時將會有來自加國原住民及相關產業代表團來台共襄盛舉，期許未來兩國共同合作促進原住民的權益，為其帶來繁榮與發展。
Executive Director Nickel continued to express that Taiwan and Canada also have great room for collaborations in areas related to civil society, resilient development, critical infrastructure, and external factors that may harm democracy such as misinformation/disinformation and cyber-attacks. There have also been frequent exchanges in cultural events and education programs between the two nations. During his 18-month service in Taiwan, the Canadian Trade Office has held 28 cultural and artistic events in multiple cities throughout Taiwan, which allows people to learn more about Canadian culture. They also look forward to Taiwanese delegations and representatives visiting Canada to promote Taiwanese culture and to give Canadian people a better understanding of Taiwan. In closing, Executive Director Nickel touched on the large indigenous population, another feature that Taiwan and Canada have in common, and invited President Han and members of the Legislative Yuan to attend the 2024 World Indigenous Tourism Summit to be held in Kaohsiung on April 16. At the grant event, there would be indigenous representatives from Canada and delegations of industries working with indigenous affairs. It is hoped that the two nations would work together to promote the rights and interests of indigenous peoples with future prosperity and long-term development.
院長感謝倪代表的分享，並強調世界各國通常較易被市場規模、土地面積、人口、GDP等表面因素影響，因此在對外政策取捨時，比起強大的中國，台灣易受到忽略或犧牲。然全世界有5,000萬的華僑，絕大多數心向中華民國台灣，繼以一千零一夜阿拉丁神燈與戒指的故事比喻，台灣看似渺小，然卻發揮著巨大的影響力，呼籲各國善用台灣潛在的優勢力量，與台灣合作共創更多的發展與繁榮。
In response, President Han expressed his gratitude to Executive Director Nickel for acknowledging Taiwan regardless of straight factors such as market size, land area, population, and GDP, which most countries take into account first, when it comes to making foreign policy decisions, especially when Taiwan, compared with China as a superpower based on these factors alone, is more often neglected or excluded. That being the case, there are 50 million overseas Chinese around the world, and most of them bear the Republic of China (Taiwan) in their mind. Referencing the tale of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp from the Book of One Thousand and One Nights, President Han compared Taiwan to the small ring in the story for summoning the mighty genie; in other words, Taiwan’s charm is far-reaching despite its small country size. It is hoped that countries around the world could tap into Taiwan’s potential and advantages by working with it to boost development and to achieve prosperity.
雙邊交流時，徐巧芯委員表示加國具有創新優勢與豐厚的軟實力，台灣則擁有硬體、設備、優質零組件產業等硬實力，經濟互補，盼未來兩國可在共享的價值上，繼續深化雙邊合作。莊瑞雄委員分享加國的國家公園、城市規畫設計等帶給他的深刻印象，並感謝加國政府在去年七大工業國（G7）峰會後，與美日歐等國發布聯合聲明，重申支持台海和平穩定，他期盼加國持續支持台灣，讓台灣與CPTPP會員國共同成長、共創繁榮。張啓楷委員則肯定台加兩國豐碩的交流成果，並允諾將在院長的帶領下致力深化雙邊國會交流。
During the exchange of ideas from both sides, Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin mentioned Canada’s soft power in advantages with innovation and resources, while Taiwan is known for its leading industries in manufacturing hardware, equipment, as well as parts and components. With the two strengths complementing each other for economic development, there will be high hopes for continued and deepened partnerships based on the shared universal values. Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung also shared his deep impression on Canada’s national parks and urban planning, and design projects. He thanked Canada for signing a joint statement with the United States, Japan, and European countries after the 2023 G7 Summit (Summit of Major Industrialized Nations) to reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Legislator Chuang expressed hope that Canada would continue to support Taiwan, so that Taiwan and CPTPP member states could thrive and achieve prosperity together. Legislator Chang Chi-kai acknowledged the fruitful exchanges between Taiwan and Canada and promised to spare no effort in increasing bilateral parliamentary exchanges under the leadership of President Han.
會談歷約50分鐘，氣氛友好愉快，雙方最後互贈紀念品為今日會晤畫下圓滿的句點。
The event concluded after 50 minutes in warmth and joy, with the exchange of tokens of appreciation.
