TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Thursday said he hoped that Taiwan and France would continue strengthening their bilateral strategic partnership.
During a meeting with the visiting French parliamentary delegation led by Marie-Noelle Battistel, Lai thanked France for its continued support for Taiwan, according to the Presidential Office. He pointed out that in 2023, both houses of the French parliament passed the “Military Programming Law,” which included language supporting Taiwan.
He also noted that during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Japan in April, Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The president said France is Taiwan’s fifth-largest European trading partner and Taiwan’s leading scientific research partner on the continent. In April, the two countries held exchanges across key fields, including semiconductors and quantum technology, at the second Taiwan-France Scientific Research Conference in Grenoble.
Lai said Taiwan would continue working together with France to promote global peace and prosperity.
Battistel said France and Taiwan share the belief that democratic countries should uphold common values through dialogue and cooperation. At a time when the world faces growing tensions, crises, and challenges to international law, democratic nations must firmly defend their shared values, she said.
Battistel also expressed admiration for the Taiwanese, saying Taiwan has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of increasing Chinese pressure and authoritarian expansion. She vowed that her delegation would continue supporting Taiwan’s international participation and the Taiwanese right to self-determination.
What connects the French and Taiwanese is a shared commitment to freedom, democracy, and international law, Battistel said.
Battistel was awarded Taiwan’s Friendship Diplomacy Medal on Monday for her contributions to strengthening Taiwan-France ties. She said her visit was intended to demonstrate support for Taiwan.
