Taiwan launches ASEAN parliamentary friendship group

TAIPEI – Taipei on Tuesday established the ASEAN parliamentary friendship group with the aim of building closer ties with the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote regional peace, economic development and trades.

According to the head of Taiwan-ASEAN Parliamentary Friendship Association, Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Ou-po (陳歐珀), the establishment of the group will further enhanced the exchange between ten ASEAN members states of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Chen added that the group hopes to work closly with the Asean countries and promote ties.

30 lawmakers were reportedly joined the friendship association.

Legislative Yuan Secretary-general Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉) were grateful for the lawmakers’ efforts to promote “legislative diplomacy” that will showcase the nation’s culture on the world stage.

Lin hope that the legislative group will be able to visit the ASEAN countries after the Covid-19 pandemic has been managed.

Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) Minister Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) and Transportation Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) also attended the ceremony.

Lin added that Taiwan should impose its position in the region as a brother to all ASEAN nations. Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) Minister Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) said that most overseas Taiwanese businesses have chosen countries in the ASEAN to do their business.