September 7, 2017
No.151
Guido Galperti, vice chairman of the Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, is visiting Taiwan together with two other members of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies, Giuseppe Romele and Mario Borghese, from September 7 to 11, at the invitation of the Republic of China (Taiwan) government.
The delegation is visiting Taiwan to participate in the seventh Italian-Taiwanese Economic, Industrial and Financial Cooperation Forum, as well as to gain a better understanding of political, economic, social and cultural developments in Taiwan, and to advance substantial cooperation and exchange between Taiwan and Italy in a number of areas.
During their time in Taiwan, the members of the delegation will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, call at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Mainland Affairs Council, and visit sites of cultural and economic interest such as the National Palace Museum and Taipei 101, as well as attend luncheons hosted in their honor by the Legislative Yuan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The members of the delegation, who represent Italy’s major political parties, serve as an important link of friendship for Taiwan within the Italian parliament. Mr. Galperti is a member of Italy’s Democratic Party, the largest political party in the country’s current ruling coalition, and has on numerous occasions expressed support for Taiwan from the floor of the Chamber of Deputies; Mr. Romele, a key figure in Forza Italia, is currently serving his fourth term in parliament; and Mr. Borghese represents Italian living in South America.
Italy is Taiwan’s fifth-largest trading partner in Europe. Bilateral trade has increased steadily in recent years, with various forms of cooperation and exchange also becoming more and more frequent. A bilateral agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion, which took effect on January 1, 2016, has also had a beneficial impact on trade and investment exchanges and tax-related cooperation. (E)