The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that this year, under the theme of “Democratic Resilience and Security,” it organized two sessions of the “2024 European Valued Important Partnership” program. A total of 29 visitors from 14 European countries and the European Union came to Taiwan for a two-week exchange program, with the aim of further enhancing bilateral exchanges between Taiwan and Europe.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China issued a press release, stating that the “2024 European Valued Important Partnership” (EVIP) program was conducted in two sessions from July 7 to 20 and from August 11 to 24, in collaboration with the National Chengchi University.
In addition to meetings with Taiwanese government departments, prominent think tanks, industry research centers, and technology companies, the visitors of the program also attended events such as the “Democratic Resilience and Countering Disinformation” seminar, the “Taiwan Scholarship Program for European Scholars in Taiwan” exchange dinner, as well as visits to Kinmen and Yilan. These activities helped the visitors gain a comprehensive understanding of Taiwan’s political, economic situation, and industrial development.
During the closing tea party before leaving Taiwan, the visitors expressed their admiration for Taiwan’s steadfast commitment to democratic values, highlighting Taiwan’s high regard for freedom and human rights, making it a model in Asia. They also praised Taiwan for being not only the birthplace of high-tech industries like semiconductors but also one of the few countries in the world where people can enjoy a safe nightlife.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that to cultivate young talents from important European countries to become strong supporters of Taiwan, the “European Valued Important Partnership” program has been implemented since 2022. It invites officials from European countries, including government officials, parliament members, key aides of European parliamentarians, industry experts, and think tank scholars, with the hope of further enhancing bilateral exchanges between Taiwan and Europe.