Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Chiu Chih-wei has founded an association to build friendship between local lawmakers and their ASEAN counterparts.
ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a ten-member trading bloc established in 1967.
At a launch ceremony on Friday, Chiu said Taiwan and ASEAN members have close economic and geopolitical ties. Chiu also said he hopes that the association will help promote regional security.
“There are a lot of things and future plans that require cooperation between Taiwan and the 10 ASEAN member countries," said Chiu.
"They include joint development of resources, economic integration, technological cooperation, and education exchanges. I think Taiwan will do it best and do its share of upgrading ties with Southeast Asia.”
Taiwan has representative offices in eight of the ten ASEAN member countries.