Taiwan deepens partnership with Sweden

2023/08/28

Premier Chen Chien-jen received a 7-member cross-party Swedish parliamentary delegation Aug. 24, and expressed appreciation for support from the Swedish parliament for Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations, according to the Executive Yuan.

Led by Tobias Andersson, chairman of the Committee on Industry and Trade of the Swedish parliament, the group is on a four-day visit. This is the third formal Swedish parliamentary delegation to visit Taiwan this year, evidencing support from the Riksdag for Taiwan.

Chen expressed his gratitude to Andersson and other members for urging the inclusion of Taiwan in the WHA, UNFCCC, and ICAO. He also thanked the chairman for proposing multiple motions in the Riksdag urging the European Union to sign a bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan.

Sweden is Taiwan’s largest trade partner in northern Europe and the two countries share universal values of democracy, freedom, and human rights while both facing the threat posed by autocratic countries, the premier said. He added that signing a BIA with the EU will facilitate closer cooperation and economic links.

Chen said that since Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson took office, he has openly expressed concern about the military threat that China poses to Taiwan and emphasized that cross-strait tension has an impact on Europe, therefore Kristersson undertook to strengthen ties with Taiwan.

In response, Andersson said that the delegates attended Automation Taipei 2023, where they saw Sweden’s ABB and that they would also visit other Swedish companies. He believed that Swedish corporations have learned a lot from Taiwan and hoped that both countries would continue to innovate. 


Source: Noticias de Taiwan (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)