March 20, 2016
No. 068
Sonja Becq, Vice-President of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium, is leading a four-member delegation to Taiwan from March 20 to 25 at the invitation of the Republic of China government.
The delegation comprises members of the ruling coalition and the opposition in the Belgian House of Representatives, including Eric Massin, Vice-President of the Committee of Social Affairs; Sébastian Pirlot, Vice-President of the Committee of Military Procurement; Werner Janssen, Vice-President of the Committee of Naturalisation; and Benoît Piedboeuf, member of the Committee of Finance and Budget. This trip will provide visitors with a better understanding of Taiwan’s political and economic progress, relations with mainland China, transportation infrastructure, sustainable development, smart cities, and social welfare.
The delegation will have an audience with President Ma Ying-jeou and call on Mr. Su Jia-chyuan, president of the Legislative Yuan, call at the Ministries of Justice, Economic Affairs, Labor, and Health and Welfare; the Mainland Affairs Council; the Environmental Protection Administration; and the Hsinchu County government. In addition, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Leo Chen-jan Lee will host a luncheon in their honor. Also on their itinerary are key cultural and economic icons such as the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Taipei Rapid Transit Corp., and Hsinchu Science Park, which will give them better insight into Taiwan’s development and national policies.
The Belgian parliament enjoys robust ties with Taiwan. In November 2015, its House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting ROC government initiatives on regional peace, improvement in cross-strait ties, Taiwan-EU negotiations on a bilateral investment and an economic cooperation agreement, and Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. This concrete action—taken after another resolution in 2012—to enhance Taiwan-EU economic and trade relations is highly significant.
Belgium is Taiwan’s seventh-largest trading partner in the European Union. The 17th Belgian-Taiwan Joint Business Council Conference was held in Taipei in November last year after efforts by both countries. In March 2013, a youth working holiday agreement was signed to foster exchanges and understanding between Taiwanese and Belgian youth. In addition, the renowned Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre established a research center in Taiwan in 2010. These developments stand as testament to the close economic, trade, cultural, and technological exchanges between Taiwan and Belgium. (E)