March 6, 2017
No.026
A four-member parliamentary delegation led by Mr. Hervé Maurey, president of the Land Planning and Sustainable Development Committee of the French Senate, is visiting the Republic of China (Taiwan) from March 6 to March 9, 2017, at the invitation of the ROC government.
The purpose of this visit is to gain a better understanding of recent trends in Taiwan’s political and economic arenas, as well as of the current state of affairs regarding environmental protection, reduced energy use, carbon emissions reduction, and the green energy industry in order to enhance the bilateral cooperative relationship.
The delegation will have an audience with Vice President Chen Chien-jen, call on President of the Legislative Yuan Su Jia-chyuan, and call at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Environmental Protection Administration. Members will also attend a luncheon hosted by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Chih-Chung Wu, and visit the Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy, the National Palace Museum, and Taipei 101, in addition to calling at various NGOs as well as organizations in the environmental protection and green energy sectors.
In recent years, Taiwan and France have enjoyed close exchanges and cooperation in such areas as trade, agriculture, technology, culture, the arts, youth, and air transport. France is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade in 2016 amounting to over US$4.65 billion. The first Taiwan-France agricultural working group meeting was held in Taipei in June 2016. France is also one of Taiwan’s most important partners in the field of technology. Moreover, the Taiwan-France Cultural Award jointly established by the ROC Ministry of Culture and the Institute of France has become a prestigious honor. In July 2016, the two sides completed the signing of a joint declaration on a youth working holiday program, which was officially launched on August 8. Starting October 10, 2016, direct flights between Taipei and Paris have been increased from four flights a week to daily flights. Looking forward, Taiwan and France will continue to strengthen bilateral relations on the foundation already laid.
Other members of the delegation include Senators Didier Mandelli, Pierre Médevielle and Jean-François Longeot, all of whom are on the Land Planning and Sustainable Development Committee with Senator Maurey, and all of whom are visiting Taiwan for the first time. (E)