Headline News
European Parliament supports EU engagement with Taiwan
The European Parliament passed a resolution on the European Union’s political relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on October 2, in which it supports EU engagement with Taiwan.
The resolution highlights in a key article the need to engage at the multilateral level with other jurisdictions and ASEAN observers in the region including Taiwan.
The resolution, which primarily serves to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of EU-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, emphasizes the importance of peace in the South China Sea, an issue about which Taiwan cares deeply.
The resolution, passed with 543 votes in favor, 66 against, and 46 abstentions, calls on all parties to abide by the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Taiwan Celebrated its National Day in Style in The Hague
The celebration of the National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was hosted by the Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands on 4 October with a stylish reception in The Hague. The reception attracted around three hundred guests, including Dutch dignitaries, residing Diplomats,
representatives from the, academic, business, cultural, media sector and the Taiwanese community in the Netherlands.
H.E. Amb. Tom Chou revealed in his speech that Taiwan sets the goal to cover 20% of Taiwan’s total energy need by renewable energy by 2025. In the area of green energy, Taiwan will invest 14 billion euros for the development of its wind power.
Adversities and challenges, including military threat, poverty and natural disasters did not overshadow Taiwan, but made it stronger. It is the world’s 18th largest trading nation and leading manufacturer of IC products and has donated US$6 billion for humanitarian aid to countries in need since 1996, Ambassador Chou said.
Dr. Frans Engering, President of the World Trade Center The Hague and former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), said bilateral trade grew by 35% in 2016. Taiwan is the 4th largest export market for the Netherlands in Asia while the Netherlands is the biggest European investor in Taiwan.
For Taiwanese investments in Europe, the Netherlands is one of the most important host countries in Europe. There are around 200 Taiwanese companies in the Netherlands. As a champion in high-tech, 90% of chips in the world are produced in Taiwan or by Taiwan companies, Dr. Engering said.
Luster was added to the reception by live music performed by the Cheng String Quartet, a flash mob choir of Taiwanese businessmen and a collective of Dutch guest singers.
Six countries establish flower auction market group in Taichung
Representatives from flower auction markets from the Netherlands, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Brazil and the mainland, signed a MOU in Taichung to establish the Flower Auction Markets Group that will help boost sales of flowers from member countries worldwide.
Mayor Lin Chia-lung of Taichung said that it is hoped that the group will lead to fairer and more liberal market regulations governing the sale of flowers, which will ultimately elevate Taiwan's status in the international flower market.
The alliance, facilitated by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), will allow members to expand into both domestic and international flower markets via mutual cooperation.
AIPH President Bernard Oosterom, who attended the signing, explained the choice to establish the group in Taiwan, saying that it is because of Taiwan's bountiful production of flowers and its reputation in the international market.
The AIPH has also chosen Taichung to host the World Flora Expo at the end of 2018. The concept behind the expo is "Discover GNP: Green, Nature and People" with four theme parks covering 60.88 hectares.
