Tien, Chung-kwang
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of China (Taiwan)
November 15, 2023
(As Prepared for Delivery)
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good evening!
(Bonsoir [法語] / Goedenavond gu - den -a-fond [荷語] / Guten Abend [德語])
It is an honor to join you all to celebrate Belgium’s King’s Day. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Majesty King Philippe and the people of Belgium on this auspicious occasion.
The friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and Belgium are rooted in our shared values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights.
Our collaboration across various sectors—including renewable energy, ICT, biotechnology, and chemical industries—remains robust and thriving.
A prime example of this synergy was the launch in July of the Green Jade, a Taiwanese offshore installation vessel that is among the largest of its kind in the world. The vessel is owned by CDWE (CSBC-DEME Wing Engineering台船環海公司), which is a joint venture between Taiwan’s CSBC (China Ship Building Corporation台灣國際造船股份有限公司) and Belgium’s DEME Group. This achievement symbolizes a milestone in our substantive collaboration.
Belgium’s active engagement in recent events in Taiwan—including the 2023 Global Digital Business and Collaboration Forum, 2023 Energy Taiwan, and the EU-Taiwan Investment Partnership Forum on Semiconductor Clusters—further reflects the depth of our partnership.
Belgium is Taiwan’s fifth-largest EU trading partner. Bilateral trade continued to rise in 2022, reaching 3.67 billion US dollars.
I was also delighted to learn that the 23rd Taiwan-Belgium Joint Business Council Meeting is set for early December. Business representatives from both Taiwan and Belgium will use the meeting to share the latest developments and policies in such key fields as automatic machinery, green technology, smart cities, and renewable energy.
Mutual visits by high-level representatives from Taiwan and Belgium are also on the rise. This year, Taiwan has welcomed several delegations, including those from the Flanders Administration, the Belgian Senate and regional parliaments, and the Belgian Chamber of Representatives.
Meanwhile, several ministers from our government have traveled to Belgium or are scheduled to visit. These interactions underscore the strengthening relations between our countries.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Belgium for its support for Taiwan over the years.
In addition to promoting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, Belgium continues to publicly advocate the de-escalation of tensions and the preservation of the status quo, emphasizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
I also commend Director Branders for his efforts to strengthen exchanges between Taiwan and Belgium since assuming office in July. With the support and friendship of the Belgian Office, Taipei, I am confident that our relations will continue to flourish.
In closing, I would like to once again express my warmest congratulations to our Belgian friends. I wish everyone a wonderful evening and the best of health and happiness. Thank you!