The UK is to further deepen and broaden its trade relationship with Taiwan, as it has long been an important trading partner to the world, visiting British trade envoy to Taiwan Richard Faulkner told President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.
Taiwan has gained global recognition for its importance to global supply chains, most notably in the fields of semiconductors and technology, Faulkner said.
The value of bilateral trade between the UK and Taiwan has continued to grow even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which “reflects the continued importance of Taiwan as a trading partner to the UK and to the world,” he said.
Photo: CNA
The UK and Taiwan have agreed to further advance the trade relationship, he said, referring to the announcement last month that Taiwan and the UK would begin talks on an Enhanced Trade Partnership.
The two sides could seek closer cooperation on net zero carbon emmissions and energy transition, as well as science and technology based on their long-standing renewable energy partnerships, with more than 40 British companies in the offshore wind sector having operations in Taiwan, he said.
Thanks to the hard work of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, “understanding of Taiwan and its position in the world is much greater now than it was five or 10 years ago,” he said.
He extended his congratulations to Tsai, whom he praised as “the guardian of parliamentary democracy and human rights in Taiwan,” saying the reputation of Taiwan in the British parliament has been greatly enhanced during her time in office.
Tsai welcomed Faulkner back to Taiwan after his previous visit five years ago and thanked him for his efforts to deepen ties between the UK and Taiwan.
Taiwan and the UK are both actively developing renewable energy capacity. With more than 250 offshore wind turbines installed along the coast, Taiwan is looking forward to increasing exchanges on energy issues with the UK, she said.
She congratulated the UK on signing the treaty to become a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in July, and asked for its support for Taiwan’s bid to also join the bloc.
The UK’s Integrated Review Refresh published in March and a report released last month, which reviews its policy that allocates a high priority to the Indo-Pacific region, both underlined the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and are “of great significance to global peace and stability,” Tsai said.
Faulkner later yesterday met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) to exchange opinions on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, education, and science and technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Faulkner said that he was happy to see the UK and Taiwan continue to deepen educational exchanges through the ministry’s Taiwan-Europe Connectivity Scholarships Program, the statement said.
British Council in Taiwan Director Ralph Rogers encouraged Taiwanese students to apply for the Turing Scheme and Chevening Scholarships to study or receive training in the UK, it said.
Faulkner is leading a delegation comprising 10 British renewable energy businesses to participate in the 18th UK-Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference on Friday last week and the UK-Taiwan Net Zero Academic Research Forum today, the British Office Taipei said.
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