May 3, 2019
No.104
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China （Taiwan） welcomes the visit to Taiwan by Belgian Senate President Jacques Brotchi, Madam Brotchi, and Belgian Senate Head of Protocol Thibaut Cardon. The three-member delegation will be in Taiwan from May 3 to 6.
During their stay, the delegates will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, Legislative Yuan President Su Jia-chyuan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu, and visit the Mainland Affairs Council, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Belgian Office, Taipei. Their itinerary also includes visits to cultural and tourist sites including the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, and Sun Moon Lake. In addition, Mrs. Brotchi will tour the Taipei Fine Arts Museum as well as Taipei Fuhua Senior Multi-Service Center.
In his career as a neurosurgeon, President Brotchi served as Chairman of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies from 2005 to 2009, during which time he visited Taiwan on several occasions. He was elected to the Belgian Senate in 2004 and is a respected figure in Belgian politics. The purpose of the Belgian delegation’s visit is to gain a better understanding of recent developments in Taiwan’s diplomacy, cross-strait relations, healthcare policy, and participation in the World Health Organization and other international bodies, with the goal of enhancing bilateral parliamentary, medical, and trade exchanges.
Taiwan and Belgium have continued to promote cooperation across a range of fields, having signed agreements or memoranda on working holidays, education, sustainable energy, and healthcare in recent years. Since 2014, our two countries have alternately hosted annual Joint Business Council Meetings, deepening existing bilateral industrial ties while opening exchanges in offshore wind power, maritime transport, and information technology.（E）