TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A German lawmaker delegation visited Taiwan this week to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The six-member group was led by Carsten Muller, chair of the German parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Consumer Protection. Muller underscored the trip’s significance, noting it is the second official visit to Taiwan by a German Bundestag committee, following a 2022 delegation from the Human Rights Committee.

He reaffirmed the group’s support for strengthening exchanges between Taiwan and Germany across multiple sectors. Germany is Taiwan’s largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade exceeding NT$640 billion (US$20 billion) for three consecutive years since 2021, according to the Taipei Representative Office in Germany.

Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung (吳志中) said Taiwan and Germany share common values rooted in democracy and the rule of law, adding that bilateral relations have continued to grow stronger. He noted Taiwan’s solid economic performance in recent years and its critical role in global supply chains, particularly in semiconductors and high-tech industries.

Wu said Taiwan is expanding investment in Europe and working with local industries to promote mutually beneficial growth. He added that Taiwan will continue to work with Germany and other like-minded partners to safeguard democracy and prosperity.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation included lawmakers from four political parties. During their April 1–3 visit, the group met with acting Judicial Yuan President Hsieh Ming-yan (謝銘洋) and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮).

They also held talks with the Legislative Yuan’s Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, as well as representatives from the legal and resilience sectors. As co-chair of a Taiwan-Germany civil society dialogue platform, Muller highlighted Taiwan’s democratic system and expressed support for closer civil society ties.