May 16, 2024
No.165
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu hosted a welcome banquet on May 15 in honor of an 11-member delegation from the Parliament of Canada led by MP Judy Sgro, Chair of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group and Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade. The delegation is visiting to attend the inauguration of the 16th-term president and vice president of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Minister Wu cordially welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation that Canada had taken a number of concrete actions to convey the great importance it attaches to cross-strait peace and stability since issuing its Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2022. He thanked the Parliament of Canada for doing its utmost to support Taiwan’s participation in the international community, adding that the people of Taiwan were deeply touched by the warmth of Canadian friends. He noted that Chair Sgro’s visit to Taiwan to attend the presidential and vice presidential inauguration ceremony was deeply significant, demonstrating support and recognition of democratic Taiwan.
Chair Sgro lauded Taiwan as a beacon of democracy. And given Taiwan’s renowned strengths in public health and other domains, she reaffirmed that the Parliament of Canada would continue to endorse Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. She stated that she was pleased that the two countries had signed the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement in 2023 and that she would continue striving to assist Taiwan in its bid to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. She noted that Canada-Taiwan relations were built on the shared values of democracy, freedom, and human rights and said that the Parliament of Canada would continue to extend strong cross-party support to Taiwan.
In reference to the delicacies at the banquet, Minister Wu said that China had previously banned imports of Taiwan grouper without warning. He emphasized that Taiwan and all democratic partners should support one another to jointly counter economic coercion by authoritarian regimes.
Since announcing its Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada has steadily strengthened its partnership with Taiwan. The two countries have established solid cooperative relations in domains including the economy, trade, public health, technology, and indigenous affairs. (E)