Pan-green camp legislators yesterday inaugurated the Taiwan-German Parliamentary Friendship Association at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, as officials from the two countries seek to boost their ties through bilateral trade, cooperation and exchanges.
German Institute Taipei Director-General Jorg Polster and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials also participated in the event.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chang Hung-lu (張宏陸) is to serve as chairman of the association, comprising 41 lawmakers across party lines. Independent Legislator Freddy Lim (林昶佐), New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智), and DPP legislators Fan Yun (范雲) and Lin Yi-chin (林宜瑾) are to serve as Chang’s deputies.
Photo: CNA
German Trade Office Taipei Executive Director Axel Limberg lauded the timing of the launch, as it came ahead of a German parliament delegation visit to Taiwan next month.
Limberg said trade and cooperation between the two countries have developed positively in the past few years, warranting the foundation of a parliamentary friendship association.
German officials have in the past few months spoken up for Taiwan at the WHO, the International Civil Aviation Organization and other UN organizations, he said.
The ties between the two countries are expected to grow closer over the coming years, Limberg added.
Polster said the two countries have a long history of cooperation and exchanges, and last year had a bilateral trade volume of US$20 billion.
Germany is Taiwan’s largest trading partner in Europe, and Taiwan is Germany’s fifth-largest trading partner in Asia, he said.
Chang said he has had a positive impression of German culture ever since helping organize a German Oktoberfest in New Taipei City.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) said Taiwan is a major trade partner of Germany, and the two sides have since 2016 signed more than 10 bilateral agreements.
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