We deeply appreciate Ms. Viviane Reding, the former Vice-President of the European Commission, Honorary Chairperson of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group, and former Member of the Luxembourgish Parliament for her outstanding contribution to promoting Taiwan-Europe/Taiwan-Luxembourg relations.
The former Vice-President of the European Commission, Honorary Chairperson of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group, and former Member of the Luxembourgish Parliament, Ms. Viviane Reding, received the Grand Medal of Diplomacy from the Foreign Minister of the R.O.C. (Taiwan), Joseph Wu, on 6 October in Taipei in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the promotion of Taiwan-European Union and Taiwan-Luxembourg relations, and for her strong support for Taiwan's participation in international bodies.
We thank Dr. Reding for her long-term and firm support for Taiwan. During her tenure as the first chairperson of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group in the 1990s, she urged the European Parliament to pass a number of resolutions, including supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations, promoting the establishment of an EU office in Taiwan, and condemning China's military threats towards Taiwan. All of which laid a solid foundation for the subsequent interaction between Taiwan and the European Parliament.
During her period as a member of the Luxembourg Parliament, the relationship between Taiwan and Luxembourg has continued to warm. Several agreements and memorandums regarding bilateral cooperation on education, transportation and working holidays have been signed. This year, the Luxembourgish Parliament passed a motion for the first time supporting Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO). The Taipei Representative Office is deeply grateful for Dr. Reding’s friendship and contributions.
