Jaushieh Joseph Wu
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
October 6, 2022
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Good afternoon!
On behalf of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it is a great honor to confer upon Dr. Reding the Grand Medal of Diplomacy in recognition of her devotion and contributions to enhancing relations between Taiwan and the European Union and Luxembourg.
Dr. Reding has been a staunch supporter of Taiwan since first her visit in 1979. She served as the first Chairperson of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group between 1994 and 1999. Dr. Reding pushed for the European Parliament to adopt numerous resolutions favorable to Taiwan. These covered such issues as Taiwan’s participation in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, China’s military threats toward Taiwan, and Taiwan’s role in international organizations. She also urged the European Union to set up a representative office here in Taiwan.
From 2010 to 2014, while serving as Vice-President of the European Commission, Dr. Reding took Taiwan-EU relations to new heights. In particular, she helped secure Schengen visa waiver status for Taiwan passport holders.
Furthermore, thanks to Chairperson Reding’s leadership and commitment, ties between Taiwan and Luxembourg have continued to grow. As a result, our countries have signed cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding on such areas as education, transportation, and working holidays. In addition, this year for the first time ever, the Luxembourg Parliament passed a motion advocating Taiwan’s meaningful participation in World Health Organization meetings and mechanisms as an observer.
I am sincerely pleased, Dr. Reding, that you have returned to Taiwan for the 2022 Yushan Forum. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest appreciation for all your efforts. Your visit further demonstrates the strength of the relations between Taiwan and the European Union and Luxembourg. I am certain that the partnership between our two countries will continue to thrive based on shared values and substantive cooperation.
In closing, I would like to wish you a pleasant and fruitful stay. We cherish your hard work and earnest friendship. Thank you.