On October 8, the Taipei Mission in Korea hosted a reception at Lotte Hotel Seoul in Sogong-dong to celebrate the 113th anniversary of Taiwan's founding. The event was attended by over 500 guests from various sectors, including political, business, and social circles, as well as local overseas Taiwanese.
In his remarks, Ambassador Liang Kuang-chung, expressed hope for the swift conclusion of a Bilateral Investment Agreement between the two countries to deepen bilateral trade and investment partnerships, enhance economic security, and build a sustainable supply chain. On July 19, the Federation of Korean Industries and the Taiwan International Economic Cooperation Association held the 48th Korea-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association at the FKI Tower Conference Centre, attended by more than 100 businesspeople from both countries, to discuss the early conclusion of this agreement.
In a video message, Cho Kyung-tae, Chairman of the Korea-Taiwan Parliamentarians' Friendship Association, emphasized that both countries will strive to consolidate cooperation and deepen mutual friendship. He stressed that the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of Taiwan, as leaders in the semiconductor field, need to engage actively in research, development, and market expansion.
The following is the full text of Ambassador Liang Kuang-chung's speech:
Welcome to the reception on the 113th Anniversary of the Founding of Taiwan. It is a great honor for my colleagues from the Ambassador Office to celebrate this occasion with you in Seoul.
On January 13 this year, the people of the Republic of Taiwan once again demonstrated their commitment to democratic values by electing the President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, Vice President Shao Mei-chin, and the 11th Legislative Yuan. Democracy, peace, and prosperity are not only Taiwan's national directions but also the links between Taiwan and the world. Taiwan has the resolve and ability to become a key force in promoting democracy, peace, and prosperity globally.
Democratic-Values Diplomacy: Taiwan ranks 10th in the Democracy Index 2023 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and first in Asia. Taiwan understands the difficulties of achieving liberal democracy, having experienced authoritarianism in the past.
In recent years, authoritarian states have tried to reshape the international environment through cyberattacks, cognitive warfare, and fake news, using new technologies like artificial intelligence to expand digital authoritarianism and erode trust in democratic institutions.
Taiwan possesses considerable experience in countering hybrid warfare and gray-zone provocations. It will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with like-minded countries to address the challenges posed by authoritarianism and strengthen global democratic resilience.
Peace and Alliance Diplomacy: The world faces uncertain times, with conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and those in the Middle East affecting global stability and economic order. Peace requires stronger democratic alliances.
There is a consensus that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential for global security and prosperity. Like-minded countries, including the United States, oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo by force.
We appreciate the international community's concern and support for Taiwan. Taiwan will implement the 'Four Pillars of Peace,' which include strengthening defense against threats and infiltration from China, building economic security, deepening cooperation with democracies, and demonstrating stable leadership in cross-Strait relations. Taiwan will focus on building a peace community with democracies to deter war and achieve peace through practical means.
Prosperity - Economic and Trade Diplomacy: Changes in international affairs are reorganizing global supply chains, with semiconductors and AI at the forefront.
The Leitinger administration will drive Taiwan's industrial development in three ways: 'Smart and Sustainable Taiwan' to make Taiwan an 'island of AI' and support SMEs' digital transformation; fostering Taiwan as an ocean and space powerhouse through drones, satellites, and maritime development; and pursuing global market integration through agreements like the CPTPP.
Taiwan-South Korea Relations: South Korea is Taiwan's fifth-largest trading partner, and Taiwan is South Korea's sixth, with bilateral trade hitting US$46.6 billion in 2023. The Taiwan-South Korea Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement took effect on January 1, and we hope to soon finalize an Investment Guarantee Agreement to enhance economic security and build a sustainable supply chain.
Taiwan and South Korea have also strengthened cooperation in education, culture, sports, tourism, and local government, achieving notable results. Last year, reciprocal visits reached 1.7 million, with expectations for 2.45 million in 2019, making Taiwan one of the top three destinations for South Korean travelers. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau opened its second Korean office in Busan and anticipates surpassing 3 million reciprocal visitors soon.
Recently, exchanges between Taiwanese and Korean youth have increased. Working holidays in Korea are popular among Taiwanese youth, and Korean cultural products like K-dramas and K-pop are widely popular in Taiwan. Meanwhile, Korean fans enjoy Taiwanese specialties like bubble tea and mango shaved ice. Taiwan is set to be the host country for next year's Seoul International Book Fair, signifying continued mutual cultural appreciation.
I would like to thank our Korean friends and fellow Taiwanese here today for their long-standing support of Taiwan's democratic values. You are the strongest supporter of Taiwan's diplomacy, and I look forward to deepening Taiwan-South Korea relations and expanding exchanges in culture, education, economics, trade, and politics.
In closing, I express my sincere gratitude for your attendance at Taiwan's 113th National Day Reception and wish you good health and success in your endeavors. Thank you. Thank you.
