Premier Jiang Yi-huah has said that he hopes Taiwan and the US can continue to foster closer ties. Jiang made the comment on Friday while receiving Former US Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.
Chao and her family emigrated from Taiwan to the U.S. when she was 8. The 61-year-old Chao is the first American woman of Taiwanese descent to have served in the US Cabinet. She served as the labor secretary from 2001 to 2009 under the Bush administration. Chao’s husband, Mitch McConnell, is a senior Republican senator set to become the Senate Majority leader following the midterm election. They are now seen as one of the most influential couples in US politics.
Premier Jiang said he is grateful that the couple has been helping Taiwan over the years.
“Dr. Chao’s husband, Senator Mitch McConnell, will soon become the Senate Majority leader,"said Jiang.
"Dr. Chao and her husband have provided Taiwan with a lot of assistance in the past. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Senator McConnell’s victory and also express my gratitude. I hope that Senator McConnell and Dr. Chao will continue to help us further Taiwan-US relations in the future.”
Elaine Chao said that although her family immigrated to the US when she was very young, she has never forgotten where she comes from. That’s why she set up a scholarship program at Harvard to help students of Chinese descent. She said believes that Chinese communities can help promote peace and stability in the world.