TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) attended the annual Europe Day Dinner in Taipei on Tuesday, where he called for unity and cooperation to safeguard regional peace, stability, and prosperity, per a press release.
The event, hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan, brought together business representatives from a wide range of industries and provided a platform for European companies to present policy and business recommendations to the Taiwanese government.
In his keynote address, Lai said Europe is Taiwan’s largest source of foreign investment and its third-largest trading partner. He expressed hope for the signing of a bilateral investment protection agreement and progress on resolving double taxation issues to deepen economic cooperation and create greater prosperity for both sides.
Lai noted that Europe Day commemorates the 1950 Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundation for European peace and economic cooperation after World War II through joint oversight of coal and steel production in France and Germany.
“In today’s volatile international landscape, the spirit of cooperation embodied in the Schuman Declaration serves as the best guide for deepening the partnership between Taiwan and Europe,” Lai said.
He said that half a century ago, coal and steel were the foundation of peace in Europe, and today, semiconductors and artificial intelligence are crucial pillars of global prosperity and democratic security.
Lai said Taiwan plays a key role in the global supply chain for advanced semiconductors and AI servers, while emphasizing that Taiwan’s success depends on close cooperation with European technology companies.
He added that emerging industries linked to national security, including drones, have become important new areas of cooperation between Taiwan and Europe as both sides place greater emphasis on supply chain security and risk mitigation.
“Through these concrete supply chain connections, we will work together to build a secure, diverse, and trustworthy democratic supply chain,” he said.
He also said Taiwanese investment in EU countries has increased by 650% over the past decade, reflecting growing economic ties between the two sides. Beyond economic and supply chain cooperation, Lai emphasized shared democratic values and regional security concerns, per the press release.
“Peace across the Taiwan Strait is no longer just a regional issue but a global one,” he said, thanking the European Parliament, NATO leaders, the G7, and European countries for repeatedly stressing the importance of stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Lai also called for greater cooperation in public health and thanked the European Union for supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, including the World Health Assembly. “Health knows no borders,” Lai said. “This support from Europe makes the people of Taiwan feel that we are not alone.”
