Taiwan lawmakers meet Swiss counterparts, mayor of Bern to deepen ties

Taiwan lawmakers meet Swiss counterparts, mayor of Bern to deepen ties

2024-05-29

Taiwan lawmakers are touring Switzerland to deepen bilateral ties. The visit comes as Taiwan is excluded from the Geneva-based World Health Assembly for the eighth consecutive year, due to Chinese pressure. So far, the legislative delegation has met with Swiss parliamentarians and the mayor of Bern, in hopes of building more global support for Taiwan.

Swiss parliamentarian Nicolas Walder fixes on a pin on Taiwan legislator Johnny Chiang. The badge features the flags of Taiwan and Switzerland, signifying the bond between the nations. Taiwan has been excluded from the World Health Assembly for the eighth year in a row. To garner more international support for the island, Taiwan’s parliament sent top lawmakers to Switzerland to deepen ties.

Johnny Chiang
Head of legislative delegation to WHA
Switzerland’s National Council actually passed a motion, a pro-Taiwan motion, last year. Today we want to discuss the finer details. For instance, the motion mentions that the two sides will continue to promote democracy and to foster regional peace and stability.

Fabian Molina
Swiss parliamentarian
After the National Council passed a motion to establish relations with the Legislative Yuan, we created also a platform where we can discuss mutual points of interest, so that we can afterwards identify these different topics where we can collaborate more.

The two sides’ lawmakers held talks on parliamentary cooperation. In May 2023, the Swiss National Council passed a pro-Taiwan motion, encouraging bilateral cooperation to strengthen democracy, promote peace and regional stability, and to deepen economic, political, scientific, and cultural exchanges.

After visiting the Swiss National Council, Taiwan’s legislative delegation met with Alec von Graffenried, the mayor of Bern, the capital of Switzerland. At Bern’s city hall, the lawmakers presented the mayor with an exquisite tea set, and received a gift of a Swiss Army knife.

Alec von Graffenried
Mayor of Bern
Taiwan and Switzerland have a lot in common. They are both small countries, but they are both rich countries that are very successful. They are both democracies, so I think we have a common basis, which is always good for cooperation.

The mayor said that as small democracies, Taiwan and Switzerland faced similar global challenges, and must seek out international allies and cooperation. He emphasized that Taiwan would never be alone as it navigates the road of democracy.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

強化國會外交! WHA立委視導團訪瑞士國會

2024-05-29

受到中國打壓，台灣已連續8年未能參與世衛大會，為了爭取更多國際支持，WHA立委視導團，參訪瑞士國會，並與瑞國會友台小組會談，強化國會外交。

瑞士國會友台議員Nicolas，替立委視導團團長江啟臣，別上台瑞國旗的徽章，象徵兩國深厚友誼，受到中國打壓，台灣已連續8年未能獲邀參與WHA，為了爭取更多國際社會支持，台灣國會首度派出最高層級代表，強化國會外交。

[[立委視導團團長江啟臣]]
“瑞士國會他的國家委員會，實際上在去年也通過一個動議，一個(友台)提案。今天就是希望針對一些細部的部分(討論)，比如說裡面提到，希望雙邊繼續推動民主，還有持續推動(區域)和平穩定。”

[[瑞士國會友台小組共同主席 Fabian Molina]]
“我認為在國家委員會通過友台決議案，建立台瑞關係後，我們也創建了一個平台，可以討論雙邊有興趣的點，確認這些不同的主題之後，我們可以多多相互合作。”

台瑞國會代表進行雙邊會談，2023年5月瑞士通過友台決議案，除了強化民主，促進和平與地區穩定，同時也深化雙方經濟、政治、科學以及文化交流。

結束國會參訪行程後，立委視導團前往瑞士首都伯恩，在市政廳拜會伯恩市長，台灣方贈送精緻茶具，伯恩市長則回贈經典瑞士刀。

[[伯恩市長 Alec Von Graffenried]]
“台灣跟瑞士有很多共同之處，都是小而富有的國家，我們都有很成功的民主，我們有共同的基礎，我們有很好的合作關係。”

強調台灣與瑞士處境相似，都是自由民主的國家，面對國際情勢，必須爭取國際盟友、相互合作，相信台灣在民主這條路上，就永遠不會孤單。

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