President Tsai meets Idaho Governor Brad Little
On the morning of December 6, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation led by Idaho Governor Brad Little. In remarks, President Tsai said that Taiwan and Idaho are close and important trade partners. The president said she was happy to see Micron Technology, whose headquarters are in Idaho, announce increased investment in Taiwan, and expressed hope that Taiwan and Idaho will continue to strengthen ties and expand exchanges based on our existing firm foundation.
A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows:
I would like to warmly welcome you all to the Presidential Office. This is Governor Little's third visit to Taiwan and his first overseas trip since the outbreak of the pandemic. Your visit not only demonstrates the deep friendship between Taiwan and Idaho, but is also very significant in terms of advancing Taiwan-US relations.
Taiwan and Idaho have long enjoyed a very close relationship and are important economic and trading partners. Idaho has made outstanding technological progress in clean energy, semiconductors, aerospace, and innovative industries, areas that complement the direction Taiwan has taken in recent years with our policy of promoting Six Core Strategic Industries. We are also further strengthening industrial resilience and international supply chain security.
We were happy to see Micron Technology, whose headquarters are in Idaho, recently announced increased investment and staffing and an expansion of its operations in Taiwan. Economic security is an important pillar of national and regional security. Taiwan is willing and able to strengthen cooperation with democratic partners to jointly uphold our way of life and create sustainable semiconductor supply chains.
The post-pandemic world order is in a state of rapid change. We not only face the challenge of supply chain restructuring and the threat of extreme weather, but are also confronted by the continued global expansion of authoritarianism.
In recent years, there has been growing recognition in the international community that Taiwan's democracy and security are key to the peace and stability of the international order. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the US government and Congress for emphasizing their rock-solid commitment to Taiwan's security on many occasions and for publicly reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
I also thank Governor Little for speaking up for Taiwan at international events over the years. I am grateful as well to the Idaho Legislature for unanimously passing resolutions in support of Taiwan three years running. We look forward to your continued support for Taiwan's international participation and to deepening cooperation with our democratic partners.
During this visit, Governor Little witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding between Taiwan and Idaho that will facilitate bilateral business exchanges and industrial cooperation. I look forward to Taiwan and Idaho continuing to strengthen relations and expand exchanges based on our existing firm foundations. Let's work together to further advance the well-being of our peoples.
Governor Little then delivered remarks and thanked President Tsai for her hospitality and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Industrial Development Bureau for their support. He also mentioned that his delegation met with the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei that morning.
Governor Little noted that the first agreement between Idaho and Taiwan was signed in 1984, and that since then, all six governors of Idaho, regardless of party affiliation, have upheld this longstanding relationship with Taiwan. He also credited Eddie Yen (顏銀德), who for 33 years has helped build relationships between customers and business in Taiwan and Idaho.
The governor stated that Micron Technology was founded in Idaho in 1978, and that this company has looked around the world for places that value technology and skilled labor in a search that led them to Taiwan. Just as Micron is expanding and growing in Taiwan, Governor Little said, Idaho is also expanding its business relationships here.
Mentioning that his family is in the cattle business, Governor Little said that in addition to its agricultural products, Idaho has a lot to offer in the technology sector. He also stated that Idaho and Taiwan have shared a firm friendship for 38 years, and that we will soon celebrate 40 years of this friendship.
Idaho and Taiwan have built not only friendships, the governor said, but have built profitable ventures for both the people of Taiwan and of Idaho. He concluded his remarks by thanking the president again for her hospitality.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Acting Director of the American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Jeremy Cornforth.