《TAIPEI TIMES》 Hsiao eyes cooperation in Kentucky

By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter

Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim （蕭美琴） last week met with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to promote the relations between Taiwan and the US, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta, Georgia, said in a statement on Sunday

請繼續往下閱讀...

Hsiao visited Kentucky on Thursday and Friday last week, when she met with Beshear, a Democrat, and exchanged views on relations between Taiwan and the US, the office said.

They also discussed cooperation opportunities between Taiwan and Kentucky in electric vehicles and whiskey production, it said.

Hsiao encouraged Kentucky to establish an office in Taiwan and invited Beshear to lead a business delegation to Taiwan to seek trade opportunities, it added.

She also met with Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, Kentucky House of Representatives Speaker David Osborne and four presidents of the Kentucky-Taiwan Friendship Caucus, the office said.

The Kentucky Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives both passed pro-Taiwan resolutions while Hsiao and US Representative Andy Barr, a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, were in attendance, it said.

The resolutions encourage lawmakers to join the caucus, call on the Kentucky government to set up an office in Taiwan, support the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, urge the US and Taiwan to negotiate bilateral trade agreements and support Taiwan’s meaningful international participation, it added.

Hsiao was invited to give a speech at the legislature, where she said that Russia’s war in Ukraine underlined the importance of the partnership between Taiwan, the US and the world to avoid war.

Taiwan’s continued fight for freedom of speech and human rights, dedication to protecting the democratic system and opposition to force and intimidation has earned friends around the world, she added.

She thanked the state for its long-term support of Taiwan, which prevent the nation from being isolated because of its pursuit of democracy and stability.

Industries in Taiwan and Kentucky can complement and benefit each other as agricultural products in Kentucky are important food sources for Taiwan, while Taiwan is a major exporter of electronic components, Hsiao said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES