President Ma Ying-jeou met on the afternoon of June 23, 2015 with a delegation led by Guido Galperti, Vice President of the Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group. In addition to welcoming the group to Taiwan, the president also called on Italy to continue supporting Taiwan's efforts to sign an economic cooperation agreement and a bilateral investment agreement with the European Union, and to continue deepening bilateral cooperation and exchange.
In remarks, President Ma said that efforts by the governments and people of Taiwan and Italy have yielded very close bilateral ties. Commenting on economic ties, the president noted that Italy is Taiwan's fifth-largest trading partner in Europe, and trade between the two countries in 2014 reached US$4.1 billion, up by about 8% from 2013. Taiwanese direct investment in Italy presently stands at nearly US$650 million, and bilateral economic and trade ties are strong.
The president mentioned that in order to spur increased two-way investments, a bill of the avoidance of double taxation agreement between Taiwan and Italy was passed by the Italian parliament this past April, which he said will boost bilateral trade. In addition, at the Fifth Meeting of the Italian-Taiwanese Economic, Industrial and Financial Cooperation Forum to be held on June 25, both sides will be sending very high-level representatives, and hopefully the meeting will spur closer bilateral economic and trade relations.
Commenting on technology and education exchanges, President Ma pointed out that Taiwan's Ministry of Science and Technology and Italy's National Research Council have signed a science cooperation agreement under which the two sides fund selected research projects, scientific seminars, and reciprocal visits. In addition, Taiwan's Ministry of Education and the Third University of Rome (Università degli studi Roma Tre) have signed a Letter of Intent on the Designation of Taiwan Academy Contact Points and Bilateral Cooperation, thus promoting bilateral academic ties.
Commenting on art and cultural exchanges, President Ma noted that cultural and arts groups from Taiwan frequently perform in Italy, and that when he was mayor of Taipei City he once led a group to take part in the Venice Biennale. In addition, his wife Chow Mei-ching (周美青) served as the honorary head of the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan delegation in 2010 and the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra delegation in 2012 when those two troupes performed in Italy. These events all point to very strong cultural ties, the president remarked.
Turning to the topic of international economic and trade cooperation, President Ma stated that Taiwan in recent years has been actively entering into free trade agreements with its trading partners. Taiwan has already signed economic cooperation agreements with New Zealand and Singapore, and has resumed talks with the United States under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. At the same time, Taiwan is aggressively seeking to take part in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. In addition, the European Parliament in 2013 passed a resolution calling on the EU to sign an investment protection and market access agreement with Taiwan. President Ma also expressed hope that Italy will continue to support Taiwan's efforts to sign an economic cooperation agreement and a bilateral investment agreement with the European Union, so as to deepen bilateral economic and trade relations.
The president stressed that the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has on multiple occasions expressed support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. For this he thanked his visitors and expressed hope that the Ministry will continue to lend Taiwan its support and assistance.
In conclusion, President Ma wished the visitors a successful trip and expressed hope that more Italian parliamentarians will visit Taiwan, because such visits result in a better understanding of prospects for bilateral cooperation and further development, and can also strengthen exchanges.
Also included in the delegation were Chamber of Deputies Members Giuseppe Romanini and Enrico Borghi.