A delegation of French parliamentarians will be visiting Taiwan this month marking closer ties and more frequent official visits between the two countries. This is the second parliamentary delegation to visit from France this year. Chair of the French National Assembly’s France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group Francois De Rugy will head the delegation.
The first delegation this year was led by French Senator Alain Richard, chair of the Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, in early October. Richard came despite opposition from China and was awarded a national medal by President Tsai Ing-wen for his promotion of France-Taiwan ties.
Richard also authored the first Senate resolution calling for the French government’s support of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations International Civil Aviation Organization, Interpol, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and the World Health Assembly. The resolution passed in the Senate unanimously in May. It was the first French pro-Taiwan parliamentary resolution.
On November 29, the French National Assembly also passed a resolution calling for the French government to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. This is the first time that the French Parliament has passed pro-Taiwan legislation. Taiwan's representative to Paris, François Wu said the resolution is a "major historical breakthrough" for Taiwan-France relations.