Tien, Chung-kwang
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
January 20, 2025
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen:
Namaste and good evening!
It is a great pleasure to join you tonight in celebration of the Republic Day of India. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people and government of India on this auspicious occasion.
India’s development in recent years has been truly remarkable. It is now the world’s fifth-largest economy and the most populous country. In 2023, it also became the fourth country to land on the moon. These achievements are a testament to the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I am confident that, under his visionary leadership, India will continue to play a vital role in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
Relations between Taiwan and India have also steadily advanced. Last year alone, we achieved significant milestones together. These included the signing of a memorandum of understanding on labor cooperation, the launch of a partnership between PSMC and Tata Electronics, and the official opening of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Mumbai.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the mutual establishment of representative offices in our two countries. In three decades, the Taiwan-India bond has grown ever stronger. Indeed, bilateral trade has increased a hundredfold, and over 260 Taiwanese companies now operate in India.
Educational and cultural exchanges have also flourished. Nearly 40 Taiwan Education Centers offer Mandarin language classes in India. In Taiwan, interest in India has risen dramatically, with Indian films like Maharaja topping Netflix charts. And traditional Indian festivals, such as Diwali and Holi, have become highly anticipated annual events across Taiwan. As the Taiwan-India friendship deepens, I am confident that future bilateral cooperation and exchanges will be even more fruitful.
In a world where authoritarian expansionism threatens the rules-based international order, democracies like Taiwan and India must come together to address common challenges. During last year’s Diwali celebrations in Taiwan, I spoke of dispelling darkness with light and overcoming adversity through goodness. This reflected my hope for a stauncher, more unified democratic alliance. I look forward to Taiwan and India furthering their partnership to better safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific.
In closing, I wish that the Taiwan-India relations will only continue to thrive, and may you all enjoy the best of health and happiness. Happy Republic Day!