December 7, 2023
No. 429
Shieh Jhy-wey, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in Germany, and Andreas Hofem, Deputy Director General of the German Institute Taipei, signed an arrangement via videoconference on December 5 to establish a Taiwan-Germany dialogue platform for civil society exchanges. The arrangement will serve as a foundation for stronger civil society dialogue and exchanges between the two countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes this positive development in bilateral relations.
The dialogue platform was initiated by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany to promote civil society exchanges and build mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries. Meetings will be cochaired by Ku Chung-hwa, board member of the Taiwan Association of Third Sector Research and former professor of the Department of Sociology at National Chengchi University, and Reinhard Bütikofer, member of the European Parliament. The platform will meet once a year, alternately in Taiwan and Germany.
Taiwan-Germany relations have continued to strengthen in recent years. The two countries enjoy frequent exchanges and interactions across a range of spheres. The establishment of the civil society dialogue platform marks the third accord signed between Taiwan and Germany this year, following ones on scientific and technological cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. Building on the solid foundations of the Taiwan-Germany relationship, MOFA will continue to expand substantive cooperation between the two countries at all levels. (E)