Economic cooperation and the resilience of supply chains are pillars that democracies can rely on to face authoritarianism together, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told a delegation from the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank yesterday.
The seven-member delegation includes former Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite, former US secretary of defense Mark Esper, former South Korean joint chiefs of staff Choi Yoon-hee and Czech diplomat Petr Tuma.
Tsai thanked the delegation for supporting the nation through practical actions, and repeatedly emphasizing at international events the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Photo courtesy of the T1 League
In the past three years, the world has faced international challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which bolstered the resilience of global democracy and underlined the importance of cooperation among democratic countries, she said.
Taiwan, Lithuania and the Czech Republic share the experience of fighting for democracy, and stand together with other democratic countries at the forefront of defending democracy and freedom against threat of authoritarian expansion, she said.
Over the past few years, economic and trade ties between Taiwan, the US and Europe have become closer, which not only improves Taiwan’s economic independence, but also serves the common interests of the parties involved, Tsai said.
Photo courtesy of the T1 League
Taiwan last year launched the Central and Eastern Europe Investment Fund to improve connections with European countries in strategic industries such as biotechnology and electric vehicles, she said.
Taiwan will continue to expand cooperation with like-minded countries and jointly contribute to maintaining a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, she said.
Grybauskaite said that Lithuania and Taiwan are “small, but proud countries” that are facing hostile neighbors, but both have the strength to protect their people.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan’s democratic transition and the development of a prosperous economy show that national strength does not depend on the size of the country, but its real power, she said.
She said she hopes that “Taiwan’s people create their country in the way they would like to, with nobody dictating how to do it.”
On Tuesday, Tsai and Grybauskaite watched a basketball game between Lithuania and Latvia at the Sinjhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.
The two nations and Puerto Rico played three warm-up games ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which begins today in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The organizer of the warm-up games invited the World Bae cheerleaders to accompany the Puerto Rico team to a night market on Monday, with star player Isaiah Pineiro trying out games including air-gun shooting and fishing.
Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday welcomed a delegation from the Riksdag’s Committee on Industry and Trade.
The delegation, which is scheduled to depart Taiwan tomorrow, comprises seven legislators and is the third Riksdag delegation to visit Taiwan this year, demonstrating the strong support of the Swedish parliament for Taiwan, the ministry said in a press release yesterday.
Taiwan has close economic and trade relations with Sweden, it said, adding that Sweden is Taiwan’s largest trading partner in northern Europe and the second-largest source of foreign investment in the region.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the Stockholm China Forum in May reiterated concern about tensions across the Taiwan Strait and expressed hopes to boost Sweden’s relationship with Taiwan, it said.
The delegation would exchange views with government officials and experts on issues such as economic and trade ties, industrial development and innovative technologies, the ministry said.
Additional reporting by Nien Miao-yun
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