Joint letters released by three U.S. agencies urging the country’s governors, mayors and business leaders to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan are sincerely appreciated by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nov. 7.
According to the MOFA, the letters were signed by Arun Venkataraman, assistant secretary of commerce for global markets and director general of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service under the U.S. Department of Commerce; Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs under the U.S. Department of State; and Daniel Whitley, administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The letters encouraged state and local government officials, as well as Fortune 500 CEOs, to expand their relationship with Taiwan in areas spanning education, investment, tourism and trade. Taiwan is the country’s eighth-largest trading partner and seventh-largest market for agricultural exports, the letters said, adding that Taiwanese visitors are eligible for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and may apply to participate in the Global Entry program.
Taiwan is a vital U.S. partner and democratic success story that plays a key role in the international economy, the letters said, adding that the two sides’ shared values and robust relationship additionally open more business opportunities for U.S. enterprises.
The letters follow similar ones sent in September 2019 and March 2023, demonstrating the U.S. government’s ongoing staunch commitment to deepening bilateral partnerships with Taiwan, the MOFA said. Close ties are also evident in Taiwan’s growing exchanges with U.S. states, the ministry added, citing several visits by governors of states such as Idaho and New Jersey earlier this year and last year, respectively, and the establishment of 23 U.S. state representative offices and the Guam Taiwan Office in Taipei City.
Taiwan and the U.S. are important partners with shared values, mutual interests and complementary industries, the MOFA said. The ministry will continue to strengthen collaboration with the U.S. federal and state governments, businesses and civil groups across the board, it added. (YCH-E)
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