President Tsai meets delegation from Spanish Congress of Deputies
President Tsai Ing-wen met on the morning of July 30 with a delegation from Spain's Congress of Deputies (lower house). The president stated that there are limitless possibilities for cooperation between Taiwan and Spain, and called on the visiting deputies to work for the earliest possible signing of a youth working holiday agreement and a tax information exchange agreement. She also expressed hope for continued enhancement of friendly relations.
In remarks, President Tsai noted that all the visiting deputies are friends of Taiwan who have maintained close communications with our representative office in Spain. Noting that they were visiting Taiwan for the first time, she extended a warm welcome to them on behalf of the Taiwanese people.
President Tsai pointed out that Spain is an important trading partner of Taiwan. The tram cars for Kaohsiung Light Rail System, for example, were built by Spain's CAF Group. The possibilities for cooperation between Taiwan and Spain, she said, are limitless.
Commenting on bilateral cooperation, President Tsai stated that air transport, science and technology, innovative research and development, and patents are fields where we continue to enhance cooperation and have signed cooperation agreements or memorandums of understanding to spur bilateral exchanges.
To promote people-to-people exchanges and business interactions, the president asked the visiting deputies to push for the signing of reciprocal accords, like a youth working holiday agreement and a tax information exchange agreement.
President Tsai emphasized that the signing of a bilateral investment agreement (BIA) between Taiwan and the European Union would not only improve protections for investments in Taiwan by European corporations, but would also encourage more Taiwanese corporations to invest in Europe and create job opportunities there. She also expressed hope that her visitors would spur the European Union to conduct an impact assessment on a BIA and commence negotiations as soon as possible. This would boost economic and trade cooperation between Taiwan and Spain, she said.
The president also thanked the deputies for their friendship and support, and expressed confidence that the delegation members all understood Taiwan's diplomatic situation. Deputy Rubén Moreno Palanques, who has an M.D. degree, in particular, had represented Spain at the World Health Assembly (WHA) and is quite familiar with Taiwan's active engagement in the WHA.
President Tsai further pointed out that the WHA, under pressure from China, has barred Taiwan for political reasons from participating in recent years, in violation of the principle that the right to health is a universal human right. She emphasized that Taiwan will continue fighting for the right to take part in the activities of international bodies, and will fulfill its obligations as a member of the international community.
The president then stated that Taiwan is willing and able to contribute more to the world in such fields as healthcare, aviation safety, and climate change. So she called on the visiting deputies to use the power of the Spanish parliament to lend Taiwan maximum support.
Mentioning that in the coming days her visitors would be visiting Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, Mainland Affairs Council, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and National Development Council, President Tsai said she firmly believes that such interactions would give the delegation members a deeper understanding of Taiwan and opportunities for cooperation. And finally, she welcomed them once again to Taiwan and wished them a smooth and successful visit.
Also included in the delegation were Deputies Carlos Rojas García, Ana Isabel Alós López, Carolina España Reina, and Ignacio Tremiño Gómez.