Newsletter (Issue 021/ 2023)
~Published by Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia~
Website: https://www.roc-taiwan.org/lv/index.html
FB: Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia
Twitter: @Taiwan_Latvia
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[email protected] Date: Oct 20, 2023
1 Taiwan celebrated its National Day in Riga and Tallinn
Reception in Tallinn on Oct. 3-
Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia held a reception in Tallinn, Estonia on October
3rd 2023. The reception was attended by more than 120 some Estonian dignitaries and
friends, including Justice Minister Kalle Laanet, Chair Marko Mihkelson of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, Chair Kristo Enn Vaga of the Estonia-Taiwan Friendship Group and
members of Riigikogu, Director Indrek Kannik of ICDS, former Chair Jüri Jaanson,
President Rüüt Kaljula of the Taiwan Alumni Association in Estonian, government
officials, representatives from the Baltic Defense College and Defense League,
diplomatic corps, media, academic institutes, industry sector, and Taiwanese
community.
During the speech session, Minister Laanet, Chair Mihkelson, Chair Vaga, former Chair
Jaanson, and President Kaljula spoke highly of Taiwan as a vibrant democracy and
valuable partner, and hailed its political dynamism, economic achievements, and key
player in global supply chains. They emphasized that Taiwan and Estonia need to work
together to display coherence and solidarity, especially with the aim of establishing a
Taiwanese representative office in Estonia to deepen bilateral relations at this critical
moment.
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Reception in Riga Oct. 10-
Around 160 distinguished guests and friends gathered together for the celebration,
including 12 members of the Latvian Parliament, officials from various Latvian
government ministries, Riga city government officials, former Minister of Welfare Gatis
Eglitis, former Ambassador of Latvia to the UN Gints Jegermanis, members of diplomatic
missions in Latvia, academics, media, business representatives, civil society
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organizations, and Taiwanese community.
The Latvian MPs included Chair of the Taiwan Friendship Group Ingrida Circene, Chair
Rihards Kols, and Deputy Chair Irma Kalnina, Chair of the Committee on Mandates,
Ethics and Submissions Janis Vucans, Chair of the National Security Committee Ainars
Latkovskis, Deputy Chair of the European Affairs Committee Ugis Rotbergs, Deputy
Chair of the Committee on Citizenship, Migration, and Social Cohesion Anna Rancane,
as well as MP Edmunds Jurēvics, Agnese Krasta, Ilze Vergina, Alīna Gendele, and Gatis
Liepins.
During their remarks, Chair Kols, Chair Circene and former Chair Vucans highly praised
Taiwan's achievements in various domains. They also praised Taiwan's efforts and
resilience on the frontline of countering authoritarianism and emphasized the historical
development shared by Taiwan and Latvia serving as a solid foundation for both sides to
expand and deepen cooperation in various fields.
2 Diplomatic allies voiced support for Taiwan’s bid at 78th UN General Assembly
During the 78th UNGA, heads of governments and ministers of Taiwan’s allies such as
Belize, Guatemala, Paraguay, Czech Republic, Palau, Eswatini, the Marshall Islands and
Nauru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Tuvalu, Haiti, have voiced
support for Taiwan’s participation to the UN. Moreover, 10 countries from Taiwan’s
diplomatic allies sent a joint letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Oct.
5 to show their support to Taiwan’s participation in the UN system, while Paraguay sent
an individual letter for the same pursuit.
Japan’s Foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, representing G7 Foreign Ministers, also
reiterated the stability across Taiwan-Strait is important to the region and international
security, and they support Taiwan’s meaningful participation to international
organizations. Netherlands’ caretaker cabinet supported Taiwan’s meaningful
participation in International Organizations during a congressional interpellation on Sep.
18.
As the authoritarian regime of the Chinese Communist Party continues to mislead the
international community and ramp up pressure to exclude Taiwan from the UN system,
Taiwan’s government extends gratitude to its allies for their supports, and reiterates that
only democratically elected government has the right to represent 23 million people in
the UN system and other international arenas.
3 Taiwan congratulates Slovak Republic on successful completion of parliamentary
election
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Taiwan extends its sincere congratulations to the Slovak Republic on the successful
completion of parliamentary election on Sep. 30 and looks forward to working closely
with the new government.
Taiwan and the Slovak Republic share such universal values as freedom, democracy,
human rights, and the rule of law and enjoy a close partnership. In the past three years,
the two countries have engaged in frequent collaboration in areas like economics and
trade, tourism, culture, science and technology, medicine and health care, higher
education, science parks, electric vehicles, space development, smart cities, and the
digitalization of SMEs, signing more than 20 cooperative agreements, with Taiwanese 15
million Euro investment in Slovak’s 3D, AI and green tech sectors.
The Slovak Republic has also extended staunch support for Taiwan’s participation in
international organizations by passing five resolutions last year.
4 Prominent political figures from various countries discussed new blueprint for
Asian development at Yushan Forum
The seventh Yushan Forum was held at Taipei on October 11. Taiwan’s President Tsai
Ing-wen, President of the Republic of Nauru, former Prime Minister of Australia and high
officials from the US, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, India, New Zealand,
and European countries also attended the forum to discuss a new blueprint for Asian
development.
President Tsai thanked the participants for attending the forum and showing their support
for Taiwan and stated that the New Southbound Policy has advanced Taiwan’s bonds with
partner countries to unprecedented heights over the past seven years. She further
explained that significant progress had been made in cooperation on trade, investment,
medical care, agriculture, tourism, and academic exchange.
The President also added that Taiwan had proven to the world that it was a highly reliable,
secure, and trustworthy partner in responding to the threats of authoritarianism and
climate change and in addressing the global restructuring of supply chains. She further
stated that Taiwan’s firm stance would help ensure the peace and prosperity of the world.
5 Senate of Italy praised Taiwan’s endeavor against China’s cognitive war
Guilio Terzi, President of the European Policy Committee of Senate of Italy praised
Taiwan’s excellent performance against China’s cognitive war in a symposium on how
to prevent fake news from China and Russia. In the forum, the President Terzi mentioned
that China and Russia aim at interfering democratic procedure of elections in over 20
countries such as EU countries, the US, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Africa and Mexico.
Taiwan’s experience is worthy of consideration in preventing such cognitive war.
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6 UK trade envoy visited Taiwan to strength UK-Taiwan trade and investment
UK trade envoy Lord Faulkner of Worcester visited Taiwan on Sep. 21 to fortify bilateral
trade partnership and foster deeper ties with Taiwan. During his visit, the envoy also paid
visits to the Ministry of Economy and attended forums on Net-Zero technologies.
7 Recent European parliamentary delegation to Taiwan
Chair of Belgian Chamber of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Els Van Hoof led a
cross-party delegation to Taiwan from Oct. 15-20. During their visit, the delegation had an
audience with President Tsai Ing-wen and met with members of the Legislative Yuan,
high-ranking officials of the cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economics,
and various governmental agencies.
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