Today, the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group visited President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China to discuss deepening partnerships in the areas of economy, trade, energy, and digital security.
President Tsai welcomed the group, led by Chairwoman Marie-Noëlle Battistel, expressing gratitude for the ongoing collaboration between the two countries. The delegation included Vice Chairman Éric Martineau, Vice Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Laetitia Saint-Paul, and members Marie-José Allemand and Claudia Rouaux.
During the meeting, President Tsai noted the significance of Chairwoman Battistel’s fourth visit and highlighted the group’s role in fostering strong ties between Taiwan and France. He commended France for its advocacy of democratic values, a principle cherished and defended by Taiwan, and thanked the French National Assembly for its support of Taiwan’s international participation and the defense of the Taiwan Strait’s security.
President Tsai pointed out the resolutions passed by the French National Assembly in support of Taiwan’s involvement in international organizations in 2021 and the enactment of the “7-Year Defense Bill” in 2023, making France the first country globally to legislate in defense of freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. He acknowledged the pivotal role played by the Taiwan Friendship Group and expressed gratitude for their contributions.
In recent years, Taiwan and France have deepened cooperation in various fields such as economy, technology, culture, and sports. The “Choose France” summit held in Paris last month witnessed collaborations between Taiwanese and French companies in semiconductor and satellite sectors. Taiwan’s participation in the Viva Tech innovation exhibition in France also saw a strong presence of Taiwanese firms.
President Tsai emphasized the increasing closeness in official and private exchanges between Taiwan and France, expressing anticipation for injecting new momentum into the Taiwan-France relationship through the visit of the Friendship Group, aiming to forge closer partnerships in economy, energy, and digital security.
He reassured continued collaboration with like-minded nations, including France, to safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region amid current geopolitical and economic challenges, contributing to global prosperity. President Tsai extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation, hoping for joint efforts towards a more prosperous future for Taiwan and France.
Chairwoman Battistel expressed gratitude for the invitation from President Tsai, reminiscing about her previous visit to Taiwan a year ago for the presidential inauguration ceremony and expressing delight in revisiting Taiwan with members of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group to strengthen friendship ties.
The visit presented an opportunity to enhance cooperation in various areas such as economy, culture, humanities, and diplomacy between Taiwan and France, involving interactions with Taiwanese government officials and research institutions. The delegation highlighted the significance of collaboration between Taiwan and France in areas like energy, semiconductors, youth, culture, as well as mutual concerns regarding AI and misinformation impacting national security.
Chairwoman Battistel praised Taiwan’s efforts in youth development, specifically mentioning the “Youth Billion-Yuan Dream Plan” which sent 30 young Taiwanese individuals to France to participate in events like the United Nations Ocean Conference, Viva Tech exhibition, visits to aerospace hub Toulouse, and engagements with the National Assembly.