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On the afternoon of October 14, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the Parliament of Canada. In remarks, President Lai thanked the Canadian parliament and government for taking concrete actions to maintain a free, peaceful, and open Indo-Pacific, demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan. He stated that in recent years, Taiwan and Canada have continued to expand collaboration in areas such as the economy and trade, technology, supply chains, and maritime security. He expressed hope that both sides will continue to build on their respective strengths and promote even more substantive cooperation, creating new opportunities for the industries and peoples of both sides.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
I vividly remember meeting with Taiwan-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group Chair Judy Sgro here at the Presidential Office in 2022, when I was serving as vice president. And two years ago, she led a delegation to Taiwan to attend my and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao’s inauguration ceremony, for which I would like to express my gratitude. With this being her sixth visit to Taiwan at the head of a delegation, she continues to advance exchanges between Taiwan and Canada. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to extend our warmest welcome to this delegation.
I also want to thank our guests and the Parliament of Canada for their staunch support of Taiwan. Be it the cross-party adoption in the House of Commons of a motion countering China’s distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, or the efforts of the House’s Standing Committee on International Trade, led by Chair Sgro, to advance the Taiwan-Canada Trade Cooperation Framework Arrangement, Taiwan truly appreciates the importance that your parliament attaches to deepening our partnership. I also thank the Canadian government for once again sending a navy frigate to transit the Taiwan Strait in May. Furthermore, at the G7 summit in June, Canada emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. Time and again, your nation has taken concrete actions to maintain a free, peaceful, and open Indo-Pacific region.
In the face of challenges in the regional landscape, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and pursue peace through strength. We will also continue to deepen collaboration with Canada and other like-minded partners to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and ensure peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific.
In recent years, Taiwan and Canada have engaged with each other more and more closely, continuing to expand collaboration in such areas as the economy and trade, technology, supply chains, and maritime security. As the development of AI drives global industrial transformation, Taiwan’s strong capabilities in semiconductors and information and communications technology and Canada’s advantages in AI, energy, and critical minerals make our economies highly complementary, presenting extensive opportunities for cooperation.
Taiwan is Canada’s sixth largest trading partner in Asia. I very much look forward to seeing both sides continue to build on their respective strengths and promote even more substantive cooperation. This will create new opportunities for both our industries and our peoples. In addition, I hope that, with the support of Chair Sgro and the delegation, the Taiwan-Canada Trade Cooperation Framework Arrangement can be signed and implemented at the earliest possible juncture. This would help to further advance bilateral trade and industrial cooperation between Taiwan and Canada.
In closing, I once again welcome Chair Sgro and all the members of this delegation from the House of Commons. I trust that, through this visit, you will gain an even deeper understanding of Taiwan. And as we build on the solid foundations between our nations, your presence here will certainly help deepen our friendship and bring about even more cooperative achievements.
Chair Sgro then delivered remarks, noting that she had previously visited Taiwan during former President Tsai Ing-wen’s term, and that she was honored to attend President Lai’s inauguration and listen to the words with which he would lead the country. Though it is already her sixth visit to Taiwan, Chair Sgro said that she suspects there will be more in the future, which will serve to help show their commitment. She continued on to say that as legislators, she and her colleagues have tremendous respect for Taiwan. Chair Sgro indicated that Taiwan and Canada are very alike in many ways, expressing her belief that all who get the opportunity to visit leave with a little piece of Taiwan in their hearts, as well as a commitment to stand together with Taiwan moving forward.
Chair Sgro remarked that every invitation from Taiwan to her fellow parliamentarians in Canada reflects the openness, generosity, and confidence that have long characterized its engagement with her country and the international community. She then stated that the purpose of this visit is to strengthen the friendship between our peoples and to deepen parliamentary dialogue on issues of mutual interest. The chair said that the group is very grateful for the opportunity to learn directly from Taiwanese leaders, and to gain a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Taiwan and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Chair Sgro pointed out that Canada and Taiwan enjoy a robust and growing relationship, with connections spanning trade and investment, education, science and innovation, culture, and tourism, in addition to strong people-to-people ties. She added that these relationships are enriched by the many Canadians and Taiwanese who contribute to both our societies and serve as enduring bridges between us. The two are also united, she said, by a shared belief in democratic institutions, open societies, and the peaceful resolution of differences, emphasizing that the resilience of Taiwan’s democracy and the engagement of its citizens continue to earn admiration from people all around the world.
Chair Sgro stated that she and fellow parliamentarians understand that strong relationships are built not only through formal agreements, but also through sustained dialogue, mutual respect, and personal connections. She said that the friendship between Canada and Taiwan has benefited greatly from exchanges at every level, including among legislators, business leaders, academics, and civil society, and that they hope this visit will contribute to that ongoing effort. Their discussions in Taiwan will help inform their work as parliamentarians, she said, and also strengthen their understanding of a region that is increasingly important to Canada’s future prosperity and security.
The chair then thanked President Lai and Taiwan’s ministers and legislators for their leadership, adding that many countries around the world are now looking to Taiwan for encouragement as they move forward in furthering the issue of democracy. She also noted that President Lai’s recent National Day Address was inspirational as a roadmap for the future of not only the Taiwanese people, but also our world, and a reassuring message to all Taiwanese that they are in good hands with President Lai and his ministers and legislators.
Chair Sgro emphasized that Canada is a friend and partner to Taiwan, and that we will navigate the challenges we face today standing side by side. She closed her remarks by stating that together we can accomplish a lot, and we will learn from each other.
The delegation also included Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development Vice-Chair Eric Duncan , and House of Commons Members Angelo Iacono, Jenny Kwan (關慧貞), Brad Redekopp, Scot Davidson, and Jacob Mantle. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Marie-Louise Hannan.
