TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Dignitaries from nine European countries and the European Union attended the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Monday (May 20). 

In addition to a special envoy dispatched by the Holy See, representatives from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, and Ukraine, as well as from the European Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) attended the inauguration. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sunday (May 19) extended its sincere welcome and gratitude to 12 delegations comprising 39 foreign guests who arrived in Taiwan between May 16 and 20.

The top European dignitaries included former President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite, Vice Chair of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defence Rasa Jukneviciene, Co-Chair of the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group Lord Rogan, and U.K. Trade Envoy to Taiwan Lord Faulkner, Member of the House of Lords Baroness D’Souza, and Member of the House of Commons Sarah Champion. 

Also present were Italian Senate Vice-President Gian Marco Centinaio and Vice-President Licia Ronzulli, Chair of the German-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Klaus-Peter Willsch, Chair of the Slovak-Taiwanese Parliamentary Friendship Group Ondrej Dostal, and member of the Swedish Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Margareta Cederfelt. 

“Their presence demonstrates the firm support for and deep friendship of European countries toward Taiwan,” said MOFA.

In addition to attending inauguration events and meeting Lai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), the delegation will also meet with the new heads of ministries and leaders from various sectors, visit important cultural and economic sites, and exchange views on issues of common concern between Taiwan and Europe.