By hannover-web.com On October 7th, the Taiwan Representative Office in Geneva, in partnership with the Permanent Mission to the WTO, hosted a National Day reception that drew around 250 enthusiastic participants from the international political and academic communities, along with Taiwanese expatriates. Notable guests included Deputy Representative to the WTO, Lin Liang-Rong; Geneva Office Director, Su Ying-Jun; Switzerland Representative, Huang Wei-Feng; WTO Representative Lo Chang-Fa and his wife; and Deputy WTO Representative, Lin Ming-Cheng.
In her address, Director Su Ying-Jun underscored Taiwan’s role as a leader in democracy within Asia. She stressed the critical need to strengthen collaborations with like-minded partners to uphold a “democratic umbrella” amidst rising authoritarianism.
Expressing gratitude for the support Taiwan has garnered from allies and partners in recent years, Su highlighted ongoing efforts to advocate for Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations General Assembly. She reaffirmed Taiwan’s dedication to contributing to the global community, aspiring to be a “Taiwan for the world,” and committed to maintaining international peace and security.
Lo Chang-Fa, who represents Taiwan at the WTO, pointed to Taiwan’s remarkable economic achievements over the past two years, particularly in the semiconductor, artificial intelligence (AI), and green energy sectors, noting the resilience of Taiwan’s economy. He remarked that Taiwan is proactively boosting bilateral economic cooperation by forging significant trade agreements with nations like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, while also pursuing membership in regional economic integration initiatives, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Lo emphasized Taiwan’s readiness to share its experiences with both developing countries and the broader international community, fostering mutual prosperity. He stated that Taiwan intends to leverage its democratic values, technological advancements, and trade strengths to remain a pivotal partner in global prosperity and development.
Also in attendance was Huang Wei-Feng, the Representative to Switzerland. The reception featured a captivating performance by a Taiwanese violinist residing in Switzerland, who played a selection of traditional Taiwanese folk songs. Guests were treated to a culinary showcase of Taiwan, including award-winning Kavalan whisky, Kinmen ‘Black Gold’ sorghum, aged Yushan sorghum, bubble tea, creative Gua Bao, and nostalgic traditional games like pinball, all contributing to a vibrant festive atmosphere reminiscent of Taiwan’s lively night markets.
