On Thursday, President Tsai Ing-wen awarded the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon to French senator Alain Richard. Richard is the Chairman of the French Senate's Taiwan Friendship Group and the head of a delegation of French senators currently visiting Taiwan.
Tsai said in a speech that she is grateful to Richard for his continued support of Taiwan, not bending to pressure, and for enduring strict epidemic prevention measures to visit Taiwan for the third time.
Tsai also said that Taiwan and France enjoy close economic, scientific, and technological cooperation, and work together to fight the global pandemic. She said she hopes the two countries will develop closer industrial ties.
Richard said that France and many other countries support Taiwan because of its contributions to economic development, advanced technology, healthcare, and international cooperation.