TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) welcomed Canadian Senator Leo Housakos to Taiwan on Wednesday.

The two sides exchanged views on deepening Taiwan-Canada economic and trade ties, healthcare cooperation, Indigenous exchanges, and countering foreign information manipulation and interference, according to the foreign ministry.

Chen thanked Canada for its support for Taiwan in recent years. He said that since Canada published its Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2022, the two sides have continued to strengthen cooperation in public health, trade, and technology.

The deputy foreign minister said Taiwan and Canada have highly complementary industries and could explore cooperation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, communications resilience, and energy security.

Housakos said Taiwan and Canada share values such as democracy and human rights, making them important partners. He expressed hope that his trip would provide a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s soft power and its efforts to counter disinformation.

The foreign ministry said Taiwan is Canada’s second-largest investment partner in Asia and its sixth-largest trading partner. It added that Taiwan would continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Canada to promote shared economic prosperity and regional peace.