Mr. Andy Kang-I Chen, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver and Mrs. Chen hosted the 108th National Day Reception on October 4, 2019.
Six hundred guests attended the reception, including officials from the Canadian federal, provincial and municipal governments, and leaders of the Taiwanese community. Mr. Chen thanked everyone for their friendship towards Taiwan and the long-standing support of enhancing the relations between Taiwan and Canada.
Mr. Chen said that Taiwan and Canada have always enjoyed close, mutually beneficial economic and trade relations. Both countries share same values and the complementary economies make Taiwan and Canada perfect trading partners. Mr. Chen sincerely hopes that Canada will support Taiwan to be included in the second round of talks on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Mr. Chen also highlighted the much progress made in recent years between Taiwan and Canada. In particular, more than 120,000 travelers visited Taiwan from Canada last year, a 9% increase from 2017. Taiwan Tourism Bureau has opened its first Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Canada here in Vancouver last month. Its establishment shows the significant value of the Canadian market for Taiwan.
In closing, Mr. Chen emphasized that the government will continue to safeguard Taiwan’s core values of democracy, openness, rule of law, human rights and multiculturalism that are also Canada’s most cherished values.
