Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is to visit the European Parliament during her upcoming trip to Europe, officials confirmed today, becoming the first former head of state to visit the chamber.
The Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium confirmed the plan as part of Tsai’s first overseas visit since leaving office in May.
She is scheduled to depart tomorrow for the Czech Republic, where she is to give a speech at the Forum 2000 Conference to be held from Sunday to Tuesday next week, her office confirmed earlier this week.
“During the trip, I will deliver a speech at the forum and share Taiwan’s experience of working toward democracy and prosperity,” Tsai said on Facebook on Monday.
“At the same time, I hope more like-minded forces in international society can come together to respond to the severe political and economic challenges ahead,” she added.
Reuters earlier reported that Tsai’s itinerary also included a visit to Belgium where the EU is headquartered as well as France, although Tsai’s office has yet to confirm further details.
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
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Representative to the US Alexander Yui delivered a letter from the government to US president-elect Donald Trump during a meeting with a former Trump administration official, CNN reported yesterday. Yui on Thursday met with former US national security adviser Robert O’Brien over a private lunch in Salt Lake City, Utah, with US Representative Chris Stewart, the Web site of the US cable news channel reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. “During that lunch the letter was passed along, and then shared with Trump, two of the sources said,” CNN said. O’Brien declined to comment on the lunch, as did the Taipei
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