Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?) yesterday hosted a delegation of French senators in Yilan County, where both sides called for closer collaboration.
Members of the delegation said France would boost its military budget and seek to play a greater role in the Indo-Pacific region.
Accompanied by You and other Legislative Yuan officials, the senators visited the National Center for Traditional Arts and the Kavalan Whisky Distillery in You’s hometown of Yilan.
Photo: CNA
The delegation is led by French Senate Vice President Alain Richard, also chairman of the Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, along with French senators Alexandra Borchio-Fontimp, Valerie Boyer and Brigitte Devesa, and the executive secretary of the friendship group, Philippe Pejo.
The group arrived on Monday for a five-day trip.
You said when he visited France at the head of legislative delegation last year, Richard gave them a tour of the French Senate and the Oise River Valley, so he is happy to reciprocate their kindness.
“This is our way of thanking Richard for his efforts to boost interactions and improve ties between France and Taiwan over the past decade,” You said.
Richard told reporters that this is his fourth trip to Taiwan, adding that he enjoyed the experience each time.
He said he would urge French and other European people to visit Taiwan to see the nation’s traditional arts and interesting cultural elements.
Later in the afternoon, delegation members met with Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) at the Executive Yuan in Taipei.
Chen told a news conference that France is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trade partner in Europe, and that both countries are looking to enhance collaboration in science, including researching new digital technologies.
Richard said the French Senate would soon start deliberating budgets for the armed forces, weapons purchases, new troop training programs and other key decisions.
French President Emmanuel Macron fully supports increasing the armed forces budget, as France aims to have a stronger presence in the Indo-Pacific region, Richard added.
“The people of France are paying more attention to the situation in the Taiwan Strait. They are more and more identifying with Taiwan, because of the outstanding achievement for Taiwan’s economic output, and in the field of healthcare and its success in combating the COVID pandemic in the past few years,” he added.
Richard also lauded Taiwan’s openness and transparency, saying the nation offers a safe investment environment.
Trade between France and Taiwan is expected to grow, he said, adding that he would push for closer bilateral cooperation.
During the visit to Yilan, You spoke about Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye’s (盧沙野) remark that Taiwan’s future should be decided by all citizens of China.
Lu also questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet republics, prompting strong protests from the Baltic states and other European countries.
“Taiwan’s future must be decided by our 23 million citizens,” You said, adding that Lu’s mindset reflects his country’s one-party authoritarian regime and called his remarks “very inappropriate.”
“People around the world are aware that Taiwan is a democratic country, and hold it up as a model democracy in Asia,” You said.
The UK’s Economist Intelligence Unit in its Democracy Index ranked Taiwan No. 1 in East Asia, he said, adding that the nation ranked second regionally in the Freedom Index.
As Taiwan has garnered worldwide recognition for its democracy and freedom, it is only natural that its future is in the hands of its 23 million citizens, You said.
Even opposition politicians agree on this matter, he said.
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