On May 7th, at the “Taiwan Night” reception held at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa, Canada, Representative Tseng Hou-jen of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada emphasized the natural alliance between Taiwan and Canada, as two countries sharing the same values of freedom, openness, democracy, and inclusive market systems.
Representative Tseng stated that Taiwan’s participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will contribute to establishing a more flexible global supply chain, fostering an economically secure free market, and promoting a confident and transparent system where businesses can thrive.
The event was attended by nearly 400 distinguished guests including bipartisan parliamentarians, 19-country diplomats, overseas Taiwanese community representatives, and business leaders. Notable attendees included Canadian parliamentarians, government officials, and representatives from various sectors like technology, media, and diplomacy.
Judy Sgro, Chair of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group from the Liberal Party, emphasized the importance of the robust trade and economic partnership between Canada and Taiwan. She celebrated the friendship, relations, and economic connections between the two countries, acknowledging Taiwan’s continuous prosperity and development within the CPTPP framework.
Senator Michael MacDonald, Co-Chair of the Friendship Group, mentioned the introduction of the Canada-Taiwan Relations Framework Act for furthering discussions in the coming weeks or months. The aim is to formalize and incorporate the bilateral relationship into the legal framework, demonstrating a commitment towards strengthening ties.
Chair of the Defense Committee, John McKay, expressed his hope for Canada to take a more proactive stance in Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP. While acknowledging the complexities involved, he stressed the importance of objective standards for Taiwan’s inclusion in international trade agreements.
Michael Chong, Conservative Party foreign affairs spokesperson, hailed Taiwan as a beacon of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. He underscored the need to support Taiwan’s CPTPP membership due to its exemplary status in Asia as a champion of democracy and rights.
Lori Idlout, a New Democratic Party member, expressed regret over Taiwan’s exclusion from international organizations like the UN due to political reasons. She affirmed her party’s support for Taiwan’s participation in global forums and emphasized the country’s contributions and rights in sovereignty, security, and peace.
This year’s “Taiwan Night” showcased Taiwan’s innovative high-tech capabilities, inviting key industry figures to advocate for Taiwan’s inclusion in the CPTPP and deeper bilateral economic cooperation with Canada.
Representative Tseng highlighted the strengthened bilateral relations under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and the signing of the Canada-Taiwan Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) as steps towards enhancing economic ties.
The event also featured 12 business booths for close interactions, facilitating discussions on trade and investments between Taiwanese and Canadian entities.
Representative Tseng emphasized the significance of these interactions in promoting Taiwan’s economic strengths, particularly in the context of the CPTPP membership aspirations.
Overall, the event celebrated the past achievements and looked forward to a future of continued cooperation and prosperity between Taiwan and Canada.