Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) met with a cross-party delegation from the Swedish-Taiwanese Parliamentarian Association (STPA) this Wednesday. Led by Swedish Left Party politician MP Lotta Johnsson Fornarve, the parliamentary group’s seven-day trip will also include meetings with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜).
Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Wu Chih-chung (吳志中) spoke to the delegation, encouraging the Swedish government to pay close attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He additionally exchanged views regarding Taiwan’s suppression in the Paris Olympics, gender equality, combating disinformation, and preventing China’s cyber attacks.
Lin took to Facebook on Thursday to thank Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for repeatedly publicly emphasizing that China’s military threat to Taiwan is unacceptable. Lin said Taiwan and Sweden face similar security issues, and expressed hope that both can further develop democratically through cooperation in national and digital security.
Sweden and the EU are Taiwan’s important economic and trade partners, Lin said, as he encouraged the Swedish government to promote such economic exchanges and sign an economic agreement between Taiwan and the EU.
The Foreign Ministry says visiting Taiwan is a first for the Swedish delegation, which aims to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s democratic development and enhance exchanges.