April 5, 2016
No. 085
Mr. Alexander Funk, member of the German federal parliament from the state of Saarland, is leading a delegation on a visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan) from April 5 to 9, 2016, at the invitation of the ROC government.
The purpose of his visit is to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and Germany on trade and investment, social issues, science and technology, and energy, and gain a better understanding of industry 4.0 development in Taiwan.
The delegation will attend a luncheon hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and call at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Science and Technology, National Development Council, Atomic Energy Council, Bureau of Energy, Straits Exchange Foundation, Industrial Technology Research Institute, German Institute Taipei, and German Trade Office Taipei. In addition, the delegation will visit various green energy businesses, as well as sites of cultural interest such as the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Taiwan Excellence Pavilion, Lungshan Temple, and Taroko National Park.
Taiwan and Germany maintain close relations in such fields as economy and trade, science and technology, culture, and tourism. The state of Saarland, meanwhile, is located in the southwestern part of Germany that borders France, boasting a population of nearly one million and an area of 2,570 square kilometres. Its economy is built on traditional industries such as automobile, steel, machinery, and energy.
Saarland has prioritized energy development. The state derives 87 percent of its energy from coal, with the rest of its energy supply coming from renewable sources such as bioenergy, wind power, and solar power. In conjunction with the German federal government’s industry 4.0 policy, Saarland has embarked on a path of economic transformation. For example, it has established the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence to develop related technologies through the joint efforts of industry, government, and academia.
Other members of the delegation include Roland Theis and Bernd Wegner, members of the regional parliament of the state of Saarland; Valentin Holzer, chair of the economic affairs committee and political advisor of the youth faction of the Christian Democratic Union in Saarland; and representatives of Germany’s IT industry. (E)