TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The California Senate passed a resolution supporting Taiwan’s international participation on Thursday (Aug. 15).

“Taiwan has the ability and willingness to contribute to international society,” the resolution said. It added that the country is eager to join global organizations including the UN and World Health Organization.

The senate praised Taiwan’s democracy as “crucial” to Indo-Pacific peace and prosperity.

Since Taiwan and California established sister-city ties in 1984, the senate said exchanges in culture, technology, and trade have been extensive. Taiwan is California’s third largest trading partner, with a bilateral trade volume of US$38,000,000,000 (NT$1.22 trillion). 

It is also the state’s 10th largest export market for agricultural products, amounting to US$381,000,000 per year.

The senate also noted that Taiwanese communities “have made significant and indelible contributions to California’s economic growth and development over the years.” It called on the Californian government to deepen areas of cooperation with Taiwan.

Californian representatives Young Kim and Jimmy Panetta visited Taiwan in May as part of a US Congress delegation. The group met with high-level Taiwanese officials to discuss bilateral relations and regional security.