Dr. Lin Chia-lung
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
June 25, 2026
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Mr. Giuseppe Pasini, President of Confindustria Lombardia;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen:
It is a great pleasure to join you today at this business forum between Taiwan and Lombardy.
1.Industrial strengths and synergy
Lombardy is the economic powerhouse of Italy. It is renowned for its expertise in precision machinery, smart manufacturing, biotechnology, and the green transition. Taiwan has world-class advantages in semiconductors, AI, and ICT, and boasts resilient high-tech supply chains. The industries of Taiwan and Lombardy are highly complementary. This puts us in a unique position to promote innovation and drive sustainable growth together.
We saw this synergy in action last November, when CIECA helped organize the Confindustria Bergamo Business Networking Session in Taipei. Nine pioneering Italian enterprises came to Taiwan to take part in matchmaking talks with Taiwanese companies.
Building on the success of that event, we are proud to bring a delegation of Taiwanese businesses to Lombardy to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. By integrating innovation and talent from both sides, we can unlock the full potential of our smart manufacturing, AI, green tech, electric vehicles, and startup ecosystems.
2.Taiwan is a strategic partner for the new industrial era
Amid the global trends of supply chain reconfiguration, digitalization, and net-zero decarbonization, strategic alignment between Taiwan and Lombardy has never been closer. Under the EU Chips Act, Europe is strengthening its semiconductor sovereignty. Meanwhile, Taiwan is cementing its role as the world’s most reliable partner in high-tech collaboration.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I launched the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project to leverage Taiwan’s advantages in semiconductors and ICT to reinforce links with diplomatic allies and like-minded partners. Through this initiative, Taiwan is joining forces with Europe, the United States, and Japan to collectively fortify global supply chains.
The strategy is already bearing fruit in Europe. For example, the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association announced a major initiative to establish a technology park in Poland. This project will seamlessly connect Taiwanese enterprises with the wider European market.
3.Taiwan and Italy share values
Beyond economic and technological collaboration, Taiwan and Italy share a common commitment to the universal values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. These are the pillars that underpin the mutual trust between our two sides.
I am therefore happy to see deepening ties in culture, education, and youth exchanges. These interactions bring our people closer together. A key milestone has been the Taiwan Culture in Europe initiative. Under this year’s theme of “Connecting Culture, Inspiring Future,” we look forward to sharing Taiwan’s vibrant and diverse culture with our European friends.
I have high hopes for today’s networking event. I am confident that the meeting will yield fruitful and concrete outcomes, allowing Taiwan and Lombardy to become even closer partners as we build a more resilient, innovative, and sustainable future together.
I wish today’s event every success and all our distinguished guests good health and continued prosperity. Thank you very much. Grazie mille.