President Tsai congratulates German Chancellor Merkel on election win
President Tsai Ing-wen, on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, sent a letter on September 25 to congratulate German Chancellor Angela Merkel after federal elections saw the Merkel-led Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) become the largest bloc in the Bundestag.
In her congratulatory letter, President Tsai said the relationship between Taiwan and Germany is steadily developing. Germany has long been Taiwan's largest trading partner in Europe, and Taiwan is Germany's fifth-largest trading partner in Asia. Bilateral academic, technological, cultural, educational, and energy ties are also extremely close.
President Tsai thanked Germany for continuing to support Taiwan's substantive participation in international organizations, including an open expression of regret that Taiwan was unable to participate in the World Health Assembly this year. She also expressed hope that bilateral efforts will allow Taiwan to continue to have opportunities to actively contribute to international society.