Honored to Meet with President Tsai Ing-wen as Member of Wilson Center Delegation!
Honored to meet President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016 and 2023—bookends to a historic presidency.
It was wonderful to discuss key issues with a great leader and hear her insights on 29 June 2023 as part of the Wilson Center’s week-long delegation to Taiwan.
Official news release:
President Tsai Meets Delegation from the Wilson Center
29 June 2023
On the afternoon of June 29, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation from the Wilson Center, a think tank based in Washington, DC. In remarks, President Tsai thanked the Wilson Center for repeatedly calling on the United States government to negotiate the signing of a free trade agreement with Taiwan to further advance the development of Taiwan-US economic and trade relations. President Tsai also emphasized that the staunch friendship between Taiwan and the US is a result of the concerted efforts of both sides and that she believes that the research conducted by the Wilson Center and the discourse it fosters can yield even more rewards in terms of developing Taiwan-US relations.
A translation of President Tsai’s remarks follows:
Welcome to the Presidential Office. This is Ambassador Mark Green’s first visit to Taiwan. Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, I am delighted that a Wilson Center delegation is visiting Taiwan once again. I also welcome our old friend Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen back to Taiwan.
The Wilson Center is an important think tank based in Washington, DC. It often holds conferences on Taiwan-related issues. During this trip, you will have exchanges with various political parties and government agencies. We hope that the Wilson Center will continue to provide advice on Taiwan-US relations and cooperation.
I would like to thank the Wilson Center for repeatedly calling on the US government to negotiate the signing of a free trade agreement with Taiwan to further advance the development of Taiwan-US economic and trade relations. I believe you are aware that at the start of this month, the first agreement under the Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st-Century Trade was signed. This brings the Taiwan-US economic and trade partnership even closer.
In addition, we are working very hard toward the negotiation and signing of an avoidance of double taxation agreement. And Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation on such areas as supply chains and digital trade with the US through other dialogue mechanisms, including the Technology Trade and Investment Collaboration framework and the Science and Technology Cooperation Dialogue. I look forward to Taiwan and the US creating more niches for economic and trade exchanges and together building more resilient supply chains, thus ensuring the security of the global supply chain.
The staunch friendship between Taiwan and the US is a result of the concerted efforts of both sides. I believe that the research conducted by the Wilson Center and the discourse it fosters can yield even more rewards in terms of developing Taiwan-US relations. I would like to take this opportunity to extend special thanks to Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for promoting many important Taiwan-friendly bills and staunchly supporting Taiwan when she was in the US Congress.
In closing, I once again welcome Ambassador Green and the delegation. Thank you for coming and demonstrating your concern and support for Taiwan. I look forward to exchanging views with you on various issues to contribute to the advancement of Taiwan-US relations. Lastly, I wish you a fruitful and successful trip.
Ambassador Green then delivered remarks, thanking the president for her hospitality. He observed that, if there is an ebb and flow to human history, there is a sense that the pages are turning rather rapidly these days. These are particularly important times for the Taiwan-US relationship, he added, and important times for the Wilson Center. The Wilson Center, Ambassador Green pointed out, is a congressionally chartered, scholarship driven, fiercely independent and nonpartisan think tank, making it different than other institutions on foreign policy.
Ambassador Green said that there are many places and peoples with whom they have shared interests, though what makes the Taiwan-US relationship unusual is not merely shared interests but shared values. Pointing to their commitment to trade, commerce, liberty, and democracy, he said that those are at the heart of who they are as a people, and very clearly those are at the heart of who the people of Taiwan are as well.
The reason for this visit, Ambassador Green explained, is the opportunity to listen to leaders from different parts of government and from different political parties. He noted that, at a time when there is perhaps lots of noise in the media and in politics, they believe in remaining true to their principles of scholarship and nonpartisanship. That is why the opportunity to be in Taiwan with the president to exchange views is irreplaceable, he added. Ambassador Green again expressed his gratitude for the president’s hospitality and for the frank exchange of ideas.
接見華府智庫威爾遜中心訪團 總統盼透過研究與對話 讓臺美關係發展有更多成果
總統接見「華府智庫『威爾遜國際學人中心』（Wilson Center）訪問團」
中華民國112年06月29日
蔡英文總統今（29）日下午接見「華府智庫『威爾遜國際學人中心』（Wilson Center）訪問團」，感謝威爾遜中心多次呼籲美國政府，跟臺灣洽簽自由貿易協定，進一步推動臺美經貿關係發展。並強調，臺美之間的堅實友誼，是雙方共同努力的成果，相信透過威爾遜中心的研究及對話，能讓臺美關係的發展有更多成果。
總統致詞時首先歡迎訪團來到總統府。這是葛林（Mark Green）會長首次訪臺，她很高興在全球疫情趨緩後，「威爾遜國際學人中心」再次組團來訪，也歡迎我們的老朋友羅斯蕾緹南（Ileana Ros-Lehtinen）女士再次來到臺灣。
總統表示，「威爾遜國際學人中心」是華府重要智庫，經常舉行研討會，討論臺灣相關議題。此次訪賓來到臺灣，也安排了和不同政黨、部會的交流行程。希望威爾遜中心在臺美關係及各項合作上，持續提供建言。
總統說，她要感謝威爾遜中心多次呼籲美國政府，跟臺灣洽簽自由貿易協定，進一步推動臺美經貿關係發展。相信大家也注意到，這個月初，「臺美21世紀貿易倡議」首批協定已經完成簽署，讓臺美經貿夥伴關係更加緊密。
總統提到，我們正努力推動「避免雙重課稅協定」（ADTA）的洽簽，臺灣也會跟美國持續透過其他對話機制，包括「科技貿易暨投資合作架構」（TTIC）、「科學及技術合作會議」（STC）等，在供應鏈和數位貿易等各項議題上，加強合作。她期待，臺灣和美國在經貿往來上創造更多利基，攜手打造更具韌性的供應鏈，並保障全球供應鏈的安全。
總統表示，臺美之間的堅實友誼，是雙方共同努力的成果。相信透過威爾遜中心的研究及對話，能讓臺美關係的發展有更多成果。她也要藉這個機會，特別感謝羅斯蕾緹南女士過去在美國國會，推動許多友臺重要法案，堅定支持臺灣。
最後，總統再次歡迎葛林會長率團訪問臺灣，非常感謝訪賓透過來訪，展現對臺灣的重視和支持，期待雙方在各項議題交換寶貴意見，讓臺美關係大步向前。並祝福訪團有豐碩的收穫。
葛林會長致詞時感謝蔡總統的熱情歡迎。他表示，如果人類歷史有潮起潮落，相信大家都可以感受到現在書頁翻動的速度相當快，這是對臺美關係非常重要的時刻，對威爾遜中心亦然。威爾遜中心是由國會立法成立的研究機構，以學術為導向，而且是具有獨立性、超越黨派的智庫，使其與其他外交政策智庫有所不同。
葛林會長指出，他們與許多地方的人民都有共同的利益，但臺美關係之所以獨特，是因為彼此不僅擁有共同的利益，也享有共同的價值，這體現在貿易、商業及自由民主上，這不僅是美國人民、相信也是臺灣及臺灣人民的核心價值。
葛林會長提到，此行訪臺是希望有機會聆聽政府各界領袖，以及不同政黨的意見。儘管現在媒體及政界有非常多不同的聲音，但他們仍秉持忠於學術及超越黨派的原則，相信此次與蔡總統交換意見是無可取代的寶貴經驗。他再次感謝蔡總統的熱情款待，也很期待接下來的對話。
訪賓一行由外交部次長李淳陪同，前來總統府晉見總統，總統府秘書長林佳龍也在座。
