On March 18th, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Tsai Ing-wen met with the “Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Visiting Delegation” at the Presidential Office. Tsai expressed her hope that the state of Arizona would become a prime example of Taiwan-US high-tech cooperation and the creation of a non-red supply chain. One of the next goals for Taiwan and the United States is to sign a “Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement,” aiming to create a win-win situation for both countries.
President Tsai Ing-wen received the visiting delegation from Arizona, led by Governor Katie Hobbs, in the afternoon of the 18th. The delegation also included Sandra Watson, Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce. During their visit to Taiwan, they attended a banquet hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu, held meetings with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, TSMC, and engaged in discussions with representatives from Taiwanese industries to explore bilateral business opportunities.
In her address, President Tsai first welcomed the visiting delegation to the Presidential Office. She expressed her sincere appreciation for Governor Hobbs’s continued attention and friendship towards Taiwan by visiting the country again, emphasizing the importance of the Arizona-Taiwan relationship.
“In recent years, there have been significant advancements in the relationship between Taiwan and Arizona. For example, TSMC’s investment in Arizona is the largest foreign greenfield investment in US history. This month, TSMC announced plans to increase its investment in the US by $100 billion, intending to expand semiconductor production and research facilities in the Greater Phoenix area, making it a hub for semiconductors in the US,” Tsai said.
President Tsai emphasized, “With the close industrial interaction between Taiwan and Arizona, we have over 30,000 compatriots residing in the state. I want to thank Governor Hobbs for her care towards Taiwanese enterprises and overseas compatriots, and I believe that through mutual efforts, Arizona will become a prime example of Taiwan-US high-tech cooperation and the development of a non-red supply chain.”
“Our economic and trade relations with Arizona are very close,” she stressed, pointing out that Taiwan is Arizona’s 8th largest export market and 5th largest source of imports. The initial agreement of the “Taiwan-US 21st Century Trade Initiative” that came into effect last December is believed to further deepen the economic and trade relations between both sides.
President Tsai mentioned that the next goal for Taiwan and the US is to sign a “Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.” She hoped that both sides would work together to achieve this goal soon, providing incentives for Taiwanese companies to invest in the US and assisting in building more complete industrial clusters, creating more job opportunities and establishing a win-win situation.
President Tsai expressed her anticipation for the continuous enhancement of Taiwan-US relations with the support of Governor Hobbs, enabling Taiwan and Arizona to have more cooperation and exchanges in various fields. The visiting delegation visited several key companies and exchanged views with government agencies to strengthen bilateral relations, laying a solid foundation for Taiwan-US cooperation. She thanked everyone for their support towards Taiwan and welcomed them to visit frequently.
Governor Katie Hobbs: A strong and longstanding partnership between Arizona and Taiwan.
In her speech, Governor Hobbs stated that under President Tsai’s leadership, Taiwan continues to thrive as a global hub for technology, innovation, and advanced manufacturing processes. She proudly visited Taiwan with Sandra Watson, Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, as a member of the Arizona diplomatic and economic delegation. Since their arrival, they have met with relevant important partners, businesses, and leaders, with positive outcomes highlighting the strong and longstanding partnership between Arizona and Taiwan.
Governor Hobbs mentioned that this partnership is built on shared values, mutual cultural appreciation, and commitments to innovation and economic growth. She mentioned the longstanding collaboration in many areas such as technology, workforce development, and cultural exchange, dating back to the training of Taiwanese fighter pilots at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix since 1996. Arizona is also looking forward to welcoming its first Din Tai Fung restaurant, which she personally is excited about.
“The relationship between Arizona and Taiwan is also founded on the continuous cooperation with TSMC and many Taiwanese companies in the semiconductor and other industries. TSMC’s $16.5 billion investment in Arizona will help drive the development of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and strengthen the firm friendship between the two economies,” Hobbs said.
Governor Hobbs stated that as Governor, she can confidently say that her state government will spare no effort to strengthen the relationship between Arizona and Taiwan in various ways because the success of both Arizona and Taiwan will lead to success for all.
Finally, Governor Hobbs expressed her gratitude once again for the warm reception from President Tsai and the people of Taiwan. She invited President Tsai to visit Arizona in the future to continue the fruitful dialogue and enhance connections between the people and economies of both countries. She believed in the unlimited potential of their cooperation and looked forward to future developments.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) stated that the bilateral economic and trade relations between Taiwan and Arizona are close. TSMC’s $100 billion increased investment in the US is the largest foreign direct investment case to the US, joining forces to build a more resilient semiconductor supply chain. Governor Hobbs’s visit, meeting with TSMC executives and other business representatives, demonstrates the determination to expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation and relations in various fields, further deepening mutual benefits and creating a solid partnership.