President Tsai meets British parliamentarians
President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation of British parliamentarians on the morning of April 10. During the meeting, she stated that Taiwan and the UK can continue to combine resources to address global challenges together, and also expressed hope that the visitors will continue to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations.
In remarks, the president said that over the past two years Taiwan and the UK have seen frequent exchanges of high-level government officials. In fact, she had just met with Mr. Graham Stuart, the UK's Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade, the previous day to exchange ideas about bilateral economic and trade developments. And last month, Vice President Chen Chien-jen and Professor Robin Grimes, Chief Scientific Adviser of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, jointly announced the launch of a UK-Taiwan Innovative Industries Programme, which will leverage the two countries' complementary strengths to optimize bilateral achievements in scientific research.
President Tsai is pleased to see such frequent exchanges and cooperation. From her experience studying abroad, the president knows that the UK is a country that retains a sense of historical tradition. At the same time, the UK is able to adapt to changes in technology and the environment, and use innovation to overcome challenges. So she stated that the Taiwan government has always encouraged its government ministries and agencies, and the heads of its counties and cities, to look to the UK for inspiration. The president also expressed hope that the dialogue platforms that Taiwan and the UK have set up over the past few years for renewable energy, smart cities, artificial intelligence, and rail transport will continue to spur industrial development in both countries through innovation.
President Tsai specially thanked the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group and the UK government for their long-term support for Taiwan's international participation. As a member of the international community, she said, Taiwan has never neglected its international responsibilities. Whether it's climate change, healthcare and disease prevention, aviation security, or fighting transnational crime, Taiwan has the ability—and the will—to contribute to the world. Taiwan's successful transformation into a vibrant democracy has also made us determined to maintain regional peace and stability. And in that sense, Taiwan and the UK are of the same mind, the president stated.
Looking ahead, President Tsai said she believes that Taiwan and the UK can continue to combine resources to address global challenges together. She also expressed hope that her visitors will continue to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations like the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Included in the delegation were House of Lords Members Lord Steel of Aikwood, Lord Northbrook, Lord Dholakia, Lord Rogan, and House of Commons Members Marie Rimmer and Rupa Huq.