President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) expressed his sincere appreciation to the French Parliament for its long-standing support of Taiwan’s international participation and for becoming the first major country to legislate protections for freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait.
On Thursday, President Lai met with Marie-Noëlle Battistel, chair of the Taiwan-France Friendship Group in the French National Assembly, and her visiting delegation. He said he looks forward to deepening Taiwan-France cooperation in key areas, including trade, energy, and digital security.
Lai also highlighted the steady growth of bilateral ties in recent years across sectors such as economics, technology, culture, and sports. At last month’s “Choose France Summit” in Paris, companies from both countries announced new partnerships in semiconductors and satellite technology. Taiwanese firms are also actively participating in the ongoing Viva Tech exhibition in France, underscoring stronger engagement at both governmental and industry levels.
In her remarks, Battistel said the visit provided a valuable opportunity to observe the expanding scope of Taiwan-France collaboration, particularly in energy, semiconductors, youth engagement, and cultural exchange. She noted that both sides also discussed shared security concerns, including foreign interference, artificial intelligence, and disinformation. Battistel reaffirmed the French Parliament’s commitment to strengthening ties with Taiwan amid a shifting and complex global landscape.