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On the afternoon of October 21, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. In remarks, President Lai said that Taiwan sees Tennessee as an important site for its global deployment and that the two sides have signed a memorandum of understanding on economic and trade cooperation. The president noted that Taiwan’s tech industry has already established AI server manufacturing facilities in Tennessee, with production capacity continuing to expand. Welcoming Governor Lee’s decision to set up a Tennessee office in Taiwan, the president expressed hope that this will open up more opportunities for cooperation in many areas, while promoting industrial upgrading, and further consolidating the Taiwan-US partnership.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to begin by extending a warm welcome to Governor Lee and Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee, who are visiting Taiwan for the first time. I am sure that their trip will help deepen the partnership between Taiwan and Tennessee and open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. Tennessee serves as a key industrial hub in the United States. Offering an excellent economic and trade environment, the state has attracted local investment and development from many multinationals and demonstrated strong economic momentum in recent years.
As a longstanding and trustworthy trading partner of the US, Taiwan sees Tennessee as an important site for its global deployment. At present, Taiwan’s tech industry has already established AI server manufacturing facilities in Tennessee, with production capacity continuing to expand. We look forward to working with the US to build more secure, resilient, and competitive supply chains. This will not only help the US reindustrialize and become a global AI hub, but also encourage industrial growth on both sides. At the same time, Taiwan is sparing no effort to bolster such key industries as semiconductors, AI, national defense, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications. Across these areas, we aspire to link with Tennessee’s strong production and innovation capacity so as to further broaden the prospects for Taiwan-US cooperation.
I would like to take this opportunity to especially thank Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for their long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation. In particular, Governor Lee has signed Taiwan-friendly resolutions in five consecutive years and has encouraged the deepening of exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and Tennessee in many domains, actively advancing the development of bilateral relations. During Governor Lee’s visit, Taiwan and Tennessee have also signed a memorandum of understanding on economic and trade cooperation. This will help open up more opportunities for bilateral cooperation in such areas as high-tech manufacturing, electric vehicles, new energy, and innovation and R&D. This will not only promote industrial upgrading, but also further consolidate the Taiwan-US partnership. Furthermore, we welcome Governor Lee’s decision to set up a Tennessee office in Taiwan. Looking ahead, I am confident that bilateral exchanges will grow even closer and new milestones will continue to be set.
Governor Lee then delivered remarks, first saying that his delegation is delighted to be in Taiwan and that they have been greeted with kindness and generosity. He mentioned that Tennessee has, through legislative procedure and signed proclamations by the governor, recognized the importance of Taiwan in the world and of the strategic partnership between Taiwan and the state of Tennessee.
The governor noted that, traveling in Taiwan, it has become evident to him that the importance of Taiwan in the globe, economically and as a business leader, is increasing rapidly, and that the world and the US recognize the importance of Taiwan as a strategic partner to the US. He added that they also recognize that Taiwan’s economy and business are growing exponentially, and for that reason Tennessee sees an incredible opportunity in expanding the partnerships that they have with companies from Taiwan choosing to invest in the state of Tennessee.
Governor Lee said that because of their great desire to strengthen the partnership and the bonds between Taiwan and Tennessee, they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and made the commitment to open an office in Taiwan so that they can better understand the needs of the companies in Taiwan when they come to Tennessee.
Governor Lee highlighted that one of the most valuable assets that companies from Taiwan bring to the people of Tennessee is the culture of Taiwan, noting how that enhances the culture of Tennessee. He said that they look forward to not only increased economic partnerships but to the partnership of cultures as the people of Taiwan and Tennessee become accustomed to each other.
