Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation of UK parliamentarians on the morning of September 19. The president stated that over the past few years, we have seen many reciprocal visits by high-level Taiwan and UK officials. We have already established regular dialogue mechanisms, including annual vice-ministerial-level Trade Talks, a Taiwan-UK Renewable Energy Roundtable, a railroad industry forum, and a Taiwan-UK Smart City Forum, and look forward to deepening our cooperation across the board.

A translation of the president's remarks follows:

I am delighted to meet with Lord Rogan and Mr. Evans again. They are both staunch friends of Taiwan, and for many years, have spared no effort in promoting Taiwan-UK relations. So on behalf of the people of Taiwan, please accept my sincere gratitude.

I would also like to welcome Lord Rennard and Lady Rennard back to Taiwan. I know that Baroness Redfern and Baroness Scott of Bybrook are visiting Taiwan for the first time, and I hope you will visit us often in the future.

Over the past few years, we have seen many reciprocal visits by high-level Taiwan and UK officials, with close cooperation in key areas. We have already established regular dialogue mechanisms, including annual vice-ministerial-level Trade Talks, a Taiwan-UK Renewable Energy Roundtable, a railroad industry forum, and a Taiwan-UK Smart City Forum. And we look forward to deepening our cooperation across the board.

We believe that Taiwan and the UK can forge even closer trade and investment ties by signing a free trade agreement, or a bilateral investment agreement. And we hope that you will all support those endeavors.

Taiwan and the UK are both devoted to protecting values like freedom, democracy, and human rights, and are indispensable partners in the international community. Even as we face severe oppression by China, Taiwan has never forsaken participation in international affairs. And we will never waver in our commitment cooperating with the UK, and other like-minded countries, to contribute to the international community.

I would like to take this opportunity to specially thank the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group for your long-term support for Taiwan's international participation. So once again, let me welcome all of our distinguished guests. I sincerely hope that during this visit, we can work together to identify more opportunities for bilateral cooperation.