Representative Wu and Mrs. Wu of the Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia hosted the 106th National Day Reception of the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the Radisson Blu Daugava hotel in Riga on October 6th, 2017.  More than 250 guests include Members of Parliament, central and local government officials, diplomatic corps representatives, as well as dignitaries from the media, academics and arts and culture from the three Baltic States were in presence. Among them are acting Chairman of the Taiwan-Latvia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Hon. Andris Buikis, Chairman of the Taiwan Support Group of Estonian Parliament Hon. Kalle Laanet and Deputy Chairman of the Taiwan-Lithuania Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Hon. Mantas Adomenas and a dozen of parliamentarians from the three Baltic states. The Reception lasted for more the three hours and guests interacted with each other fervently throughout the evening.

In the beginning of his remarks, Representative Wu pointed out numerous important policies, such as the “5 + 2 Industrial Transformation Plan”, public servant pension reform, Labor Standard Law revision, and “New Southbound Policy", have been implemented successfully since the DPP government assumed power for the last one and a half years. He then touched upon the cross strait relation by urging Mainland Chinese authority to conduct mutually beneficial exchanges with Taiwan on an equal-footing status so as to promote peace and stability in the region. Lastly, Representative Wu demonstrated the progress in Taiwan-Baltic relations, citing the successful invitation of food companies and Members of Parliament from the Baltics to visit Taiwan this year. He stressed that Taiwan and the Baltic States not only share the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, and the protection of human right but also engage in mutually complimentary relations in trade, culture and others and called on the attending guests to assist promoting the relations between the two sides.

Members of Parliament from each of the three Baltic States all addressed on the reception by expressing their admiration on the political and economic development in Taiwan and promised to push for more substantial bilateral exchanges between Taiwan and the Baltic States. Ms. Baiba Paegle from Riga Secondary School No. 84, who was chosen as the 2017 Youth Ambassador to Taiwan by the Riga City Council, also shared her wonderful experience and memories during her time in Taiwan.

Seven students from the Riga Cultural High School performed popular songs of “Green High Mountain” and “Green Island Serenade” in Mandarin Chinese to entertain the guests, while the video “Dynamic Taiwan, Embracing the World” was shown to further highlight Taiwan’s latest developments. With the sponsorship of the King Car Group, guests were able to taste the excellent subtropical Kavalan Whiskies from Taiwan.

Representative Wu delivers his remarks

Representative Wu and Mrs. Wu with Estonian Members of Parliament

Chairman of the Taiwan Support Group of the Estonian Parliament Hon. Kalle Laanet delivers his remarks

Representative Wu and Mrs. Wu at the cake-cutting ceremony with Members of Parliament from Latvia and Lithuania

Representative Wu and Mrs. Wu with Lithuanian Members of Parliament

A scene from the Reception