President Tsai Ing-wen received representatives from the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council at the Presidential Office Jan. 23 in Taipei City, pledging to continue expanding cooperation with the U.S. to promote economic and trade development.
According to the PO, the group was led by Keith Krach, chairman of Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University and former U.S. undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, and includes USTBC President Rupert Hammond-Chambers and other executives.
The president welcomed the delegates, saying that their visit so soon after the Jan. 13 presidential election demonstrates the importance the USTBC attaches to the Taiwan market and is sincerely appreciated by the country’s government and people.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tsai said Taiwan and the U.S. have continued to deepen bilateral relations in recent years. The first agreement under the Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st-Century Trade concluded last year represents another milestone in the two countries’ economic and trade relations, the president added.
Tsai welcomed the House Committee on Ways and Means’ recent approval of the U.S.-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act. This legislation will help resolve the issue of double taxation between the like-minded partners and encourage more bilateral investment, she said.
The president also took the opportunity to thank Washington for repeatedly underscoring the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. She hopes that the U.S. will support Taiwan’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, so that Taiwan can play a role in promoting prosperity and progress in the region.
In response, Krach thanked the president for her hospitality and discussed progress of his namesake institute’s initiatives, such as the Taiwan Center for Innovation and Prosperity and Global Trusted Tech Network, in driving Taiwan’s economic prosperity and enhancing its international standing.
Krach also congratulated President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim, saying that their election represents the people’s intention that strong relations with the U.S. continue. (SFC-E)
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