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On the morning of December 14, President Tsai Ing-wen received a delegation led by Chairman Jean-François Cesarini of the French National Assembly's France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group. On behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, the president welcomed her visitors to Taiwan and expressed hope that France and Taiwan can further enhance bilateral cooperation and exchanges.
In remarks, President Tsai noted that Taiwan and France have had frequent exchanges over the past two years, with many Taiwan officials at the ministerial and vice-ministerial level travelling to France for substantive discussions on bilateral cooperation. Taiwan also welcomes visits by other delegations like Chairman Cesarini's to discuss cooperation and identify opportunities.
The president pointed out that France has long been an important global leader in industry and technology, and especially in aeronautics and green energy, where France is a major force for global progress. More importantly, France continues to exert a profound global influence on humanistic thinking and the arts, and implementing and defending democratic freedoms. These democratic values, she said, are our common language.
President Tsai then said that Taiwan-France relations still have much room for further development. France is Taiwan's fourth-largest trading partner in Europe, with two-way trade reaching US$4.6 billion in 2016, with room for continued growth. As for personnel exchanges, a youth working holiday agreement between Taiwan and France took effect last year. And after the two countries re-signed their air rights agreement, the number of direct flights between Taipei and Paris has increased. These exchanges, said the president, are sure to enhance mutual understanding and bilateral friendship.
President Tsai also said that cooperation in science and technology plays a prominent role in Taiwan-France relations. France is one of Taiwan's best partners in terms of investing manpower and resources in science and technology cooperation, and established the French Tech Taiwan platform last year. France is implementing its "Industry of the Future" initiative, while Taiwan is pursuing its "5+2 industrial innovation program." Now is a perfect opportunity for the two countries to further enhance their industrial investments, as well as technological exchanges and cooperation.
The president also stated that, as members of the international community, the people of Taiwan hope to contribute their strengths and development experiences to that community. So Taiwan needs the visiting parliamentarians and the French government to support Taiwan's participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including Taiwan's efforts to meet the requirements of the Paris Agreement. She also called on them to support Taiwan's quest to join the Lyon-based International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) so that we can join forces with countries around the world to combat new types of transnational crime.
President Tsai then mentioned that Chairman Cesarini has much practical experience and insights about innovative and artistic industries, as well as local development. She thus hopes for more frequent interaction to create more opportunities to strengthen Taiwan-France relations. The president also said she heard that Chairman Cesarini really likes Taiwan, and added: "I guarantee the more you come to Taiwan, the more you'll like it."
Also in the delegation were: France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Vice Chairman Jean-Jacques Gaultier; French National Assembly members Jacques Cattin, Laurence Trastour-Isnart, and Jean François Mbaye; and Director Benoit Guidee of the French Office in Taipei.
