Alexander Tah-ray Yui
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
June 8, 2022
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good afternoon!
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I am honored to attend this academic and cultural forum to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the friendship between Taiwan and Israel.
First of all, I would like to thank Representative Caspi for his long-standing efforts to broaden and deepen relations and cooperation between Taiwan and Israel. ISECO’s dedication to enhancing mutual understanding and bilateral relations is manifested in a wide array of activities and events. Secondly, I would like to thank Tamkang University for hosting this meaningful forum so we can further strengthen academic collaboration and cultural exchanges between our nations.
In celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of our representative offices, this event aims to allow us to better understand the journey that our nations have undertaken over the past three decades. In today’s forum, we will have in-depth discussions on our democratic experiences and a comprehensive review and strategic outlook of the challenges that Taiwan and Israel face today. We also look forward to exploring a range of academic insights and new ideas for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
In this special anniversary year, Taiwan and Israel are engaging in a wide range of activities to celebrate our valuable and robust friendship. We will be holding a Taiwanese indigenous art exhibition in Tel-Aviv, setting up a Taiwan studies course at Tel-Hai College, and showcasing Taiwan-themed products at the Haifa International Flower Exhibition. ISECO held the Meet Israel through Taiwanese Eyes photography exhibition in February and will host an academic seminar in October. And in addition to today’s forum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also organizing a Taiwan-Israel investment opportunities briefing and forum in the second half of the year.
As we mark this important milestone in our friendship, it is also worth noting the significant and concrete progress that our nations continue to make in bolstering official cooperation. To date, we have signed 32 bilateral agreements covering such issues as research, technology, visa-free entry, education, volunteering, social welfare, and working holidays. Among these, the Agreement on a Working Holiday Scheme was signed just last month, opening up new opportunities for young people from Taiwan and Israel to learn about each other’s cultures. I am confident that mutual understanding between our two countries will be further advanced by youth exchanges in the years ahead.
Ladies and gentlemen, Taiwan and Israel are both vibrant democracies and share common values. We cherish freedom and uphold the principles of good governance, human rights, and the rule of law. And we both wish to maintain our democratic way of life. Let us continue to work together in service of these worthwhile values.
In closing, I would like to once again thank
Tamkang University and all of today’s guests. Your staunch support and selfless contributions are helping strengthen the partnership between Taiwan and Israel. I wish this forum every success. Thank you!