Indian parliamentary group boosts bilateral ties
From Taiwan Today
2016-12-22
Indian parliamentarian Harish Chandra Meena (left) and Legislative Yuan President Su Jia-chyuan (right) discuss ways to bolster interparliamentary ties between Taiwan and India Aug. 29 in Taipei. (Courtesy of Legislative Yuan)
The India-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Forum, founded Dec. 16 in New Delhi, will play a key role in promoting mutually beneficial collaboration and exchanges between the two sides, according to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Headed by Harish Chandra Meena, a member of the Lok Sabha (lower house) of the Parliament of India, the forum comprises 12 parliamentarians from the ruling National Democratic Alliance and 10 lawmakers from seven opposition parties in the South Asian nation.
In a recent letter to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, Meena said he was impressed with Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, economic development and social diversity during his visit to the country with five colleagues in August, according to the ministry.
While in Taipei City, the delegation met with members of the Taiwan-India Parliamentary Friendship Association, which was created in April by ruling Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuan Bi-ling.
Meena said he hopes the forum will help forge closer ties between the two countries’ lawmaking bodies and strengthen two-way socioeconomic and cultural ties.
The MOFA said the creation of the forum bodes well for the government’s New Southbound Policy, which is a key component of President Tsai Ing-wen’s national development strategy. The initiative seeks to deepen agricultural, business, cultural, education, trade and tourism links with Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
According to the Legislative Yuan, interparliamentary exchanges play a substantial role in complementing the government’s diplomatic efforts by reinforcing relations with countries that maintain no official ties with Taiwan. Local legislators currently maintain 50 such international friendship groups. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonlin@mofa.gov.tw
Headed by Harish Chandra Meena, a member of the Lok Sabha (lower house) of the Parliament of India, the forum comprises 12 parliamentarians from the ruling National Democratic Alliance and 10 lawmakers from seven opposition parties in the South Asian nation.
In a recent letter to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, Meena said he was impressed with Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, economic development and social diversity during his visit to the country with five colleagues in August, according to the ministry.
While in Taipei City, the delegation met with members of the Taiwan-India Parliamentary Friendship Association, which was created in April by ruling Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuan Bi-ling.
Meena said he hopes the forum will help forge closer ties between the two countries’ lawmaking bodies and strengthen two-way socioeconomic and cultural ties.
The MOFA said the creation of the forum bodes well for the government’s New Southbound Policy, which is a key component of President Tsai Ing-wen’s national development strategy. The initiative seeks to deepen agricultural, business, cultural, education, trade and tourism links with Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
According to the Legislative Yuan, interparliamentary exchanges play a substantial role in complementing the government’s diplomatic efforts by reinforcing relations with countries that maintain no official ties with Taiwan. Local legislators currently maintain 50 such international friendship groups. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonlin@mofa.gov.tw
