Taipei, Sept. 19 (CNA) Vice President Annette Lu encouraged Italian lawmakers Friday to help promote relations between Taiwan and Italy.
Receiving an eight-member visiting Italian parliamentary delegation headed by Gustavo Selva, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, at her office, Lu said that she hopes Taiwan-Italy ties will be greatly improved in the near future through efforts by the two sides and that the Italian lawmakers can help ensure this happens.
Lu also congratulated Selva for being awarded by Taipei-based Fu Jen Catholic University with an honorary doctorate. She praised Selva for dedicating himself to the promotion of world peace, justice, and fairness.
The vice president also exchanged views with her guests on the first Democratic Pacific Assembly being held in Taipei. Taiwan is keen to play an important role in creating new common values to be shared by democracies of the Pacific Rim, just like those of European nations, she said.
In response, Selva praised Taiwan for the progress it has made in the economic and democratic development over the past years. He pledged to further promote bilateral ties and to continue to support Taiwan in its efforts to join international organizations.