Washington, Oct. 21 (CNA) Taiwan and Puerto Rico on Monday signed a reciprocal agreement that allows citizens of each side to obtain a driver's license in the other state by showing a non-commercial driver's license and without having to take written or road tests, according to a statement by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Miami.
The agreement was signed by Philip T.Y. Wang (王贊禹), director general of the TECO in Miami, and Miguel Torres-Diaz, secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico, on behalf of their respective states, TECO said.
Deputy Secretary of State of Puerto Rico Javier Gonzalez witnessed the signing ceremony, which was held at the Puerto Rican State Department, TECO said.
With the signing of the accord, Taiwanese citizens aged 18 and over with legal residence in Puerto Rico, and students studying in that free associated state of the United States, can obtain a Puerto Rico driver's license by presenting their Taiwanese license, along with a sight test certificate and other required documents, the office said.
After the signing ceremony, Wang said the accord will help enhance bilateral trade and academic exchanges, ease the settlement of citizens from the respective states, and facilitate mutual visits.
Meanwhile, Torres-Diaz noted that Taiwan has become the second country in the world after Germany to sign such an agreement with Puerto Rico, and the first Asian nation to do so.
Over the past years, Taiwan has sealed similar accords with 13 U.S. states, namely Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Arizona and Alabama.
(By Tony Liao and Romulo Huang)
