French parliamentarians arrive in Taiwan for five-day visit
Beijing, Dec 15 (EFE).- A group of French parliamentarians began a five-day visit to Taiwan Wednesday during which they will meet with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen.
François de Rugy, former minister of ecology and ex-vice president of the National Assembly, leads the French delegation.
De Rugy, the president of the France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly, hoped to hold fruitful conversations on cultural and economic issues with Tsai and other members of the Taiwanese government.
Local CNA news agency said the other members of the delegation include parliamentarians Jean-Luc Reitzer, Frédérique Dumas, Jean François Mbaye, Aina Kuric, and Jean-Louis Bricout.
It is the first visit by French parliamentarians to Taiwan since the French National Assembly passed a resolution last month, asking its government for “concrete steps” to allow the island to participate in international organizations.
On Dec.1, Taipei thanked the approval of the resolution proposed by de Rugy.
The resolution praised the island authorities for their successes in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Many representatives from various countries having formal diplomatic ties with China visited Taiwan this year, riling Beijing.
Taiwan has been governed autonomously since 1949.
The island was the refuge of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) forces after losing the civil war with the Communists, who, since then, have claimed sovereignty over the territory. EFE
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