December 23, 2021
No. 286
Taiwan Representative Kelly W. Hsieh and UK Representative John Dennis today remotely signed via videoconferencing a memorandum of understanding for the exchange of driving licenses between Taiwan and the UK. The signing was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Ho-jen Tseng, Director Chen Wen-jui of the Department of Railways and Highways of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), and other officials. The MOU is the outcome of joint efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the MOTC of the Republic of China (Taiwan); the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Transport of the UK; the Taipei Representative Office in the UK; and the British Office Taipei. The reciprocal agreement, which takes effect on January 1, 2022, will give greater convenience to Taiwan and UK nationals working, studying, or residing in each other’s countries.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister Tseng stated that the people of both Taiwan and the UK looked forward to being able to exchange driving licenses without having to take a test. He said that the convenient and beneficial measure, which was achieved through the concerted efforts of relevant ministries and departments of the two countries, would promote people-to-people exchanges and boost bilateral economic development. Taiwan Representative Hsieh noted that the MOU followed earlier agreements between Taiwan and the UK on working holidays, avoidance of double taxation, and language exchange programs. He said that the driving license exchange arrangement would bolster bilateral cooperation. UK Representative Dennis expressed appreciation for the joint efforts by Taiwan and the UK that had made the MOU possible. He noted that UK citizens in Taiwan would also enjoy benefits from the arrangement and agreed that it would deepen links and foster stronger ties between the two countries.
The UK is the 14th European country to sign a reciprocal driving license exchange agreement with Taiwan, following France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Ireland, Slovakia, Portugal, Poland, and Germany. The arrangements demonstrate the increasingly solid and cordial relations between Taiwan and Europe. In 2009, the UK became the first European nation to extend visa waiver treatment to Taiwan passport holders. In 2011, the UK included Taiwan in its Youth Mobility Scheme. The new MOU marks yet another mutually beneficial measure that will strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and bring practical benefits and conveniences to people traveling to either the UK or Taiwan to study, work, or live. (E)