On the evening of October 9th, the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland held a reception in the Westbury Hotel, Dublin, to celebrate the 107th National Day of Taiwan. The Chairman of the Taiwan-Ireland Parliamentary Association, John McGuinness, and several other members of the Dail, diplomatic core and trade attended the celebration. Overall, approximately 150 people from academic and cultural backgrounds, as well as the overseas Taiwanese, helped celebrate the event.
Following the national anthems of Taiwan and Ireland, Representative Pierre Yang spoke to those gathered at the reception. He spoke of Taiwan reputation as Asia’s Silicon Valley, Smart Machinery, Green Energy Technology, Biotechnology, Medicine and National Defence. Taiwan upholds the concept of “practical diplomacy and international mutual assistance” to maintain regional peace and fulfil the responsibility of global citizenship. However Taiwan is still actively striving to participate in international organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the United Nationals Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in order to strengthen international relations in a more efficient and positive means.
Representative Yang also spoke about the bilateral economic, trade, academic and cultural cooperation between Taiwan and Ireland, which continues to strengthen and yield positive results through initiatives such as the mutual visa waiver, mutual recognition of driving licenses and the working holiday programme. Representative Yang wishes to deepen these relations and therefore will actively continue to promote bilateral trade between Ireland and Taiwan. Taiwan’s economic and trade relations have grown exceptionally fast in the past year; Ireland has become Taiwan’s 12th largest trading partner in the EU. The total bilateral trade volume has reached 750 million euro, yet there is still room for growth in various industry sectors.
A second speech was delivered by Deputy John McGuinness, the Chairman of the Taiwan-Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Society, who congratulated Taiwan on its National Day. Deputy McGuinness also spoke about the strengthening relations between Taiwan and Ireland, particularly in areas of economic trade, in addition to academics and cultural arts. All attendees of the reception received a gift bag on their departure, which was filled with various souvenirs such as a calendar, magazines and Taiwanese confectionary.
Representative Yang speaks to those invited to attend the 107th National Day of Taiwan.
Representative Yang and the Chairman of the Taiwan Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Society, John McGuinness, cut the National Day cake.
Guests at the reception enjoyed mixing with others and speaking about Taiwan.
