On the evening of July 2, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao attended the "U.S. Independence Day Reception" and emphasized in her speech that democracy and freedom are crucial elements of Taiwan's identity and the foundation of Taiwan-U.S. relations. Through platforms such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), Taiwan can share its expertise and experience in addressing global challenges across various issues and continue to be a positive force in the world.
Vice President Hsiao delivered her speech in English, representing the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to extend blessings to the United States, celebrating U.S. Independence Day and the strong partnership between Taiwan and the U.S. She reflected on the establishment of the new nation by the Founding Fathers of the U.S. 248 years ago, based on the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which have inspired many societies to pursue the values of freedom and democracy.
The Vice President attended the U.S. Independence Day celebration and delivered a speech. (Photo / Source: Office of the President Republic of China (Taiwan) website)
She mentioned that Taiwan overcame difficulties decades ago to establish a democratic environment and lifted martial law, allowing people to determine their way of life. This year's presidential and legislative elections once again demonstrated the vitality and resilience of Taiwan's democracy. She emphasized that over the past four years, she has personally witnessed and participated in the deepening and expansion of the Taiwan-U.S. partnership and expressed gratitude to AIT Taipei Office Director Sandra Oudkirk for her efforts in promoting closer Taiwan-U.S. relations.
Last year, Taiwan and the U.S. made significant progress in trade relations by signing the first batch of agreements under the "U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade." Currently, the second phase of negotiations is underway, aiming to resolve issues such as double taxation to further strengthen the relationship between businesses and people of both countries.
The Vice President attended the U.S. Independence Day celebration on July 2nd. (Photo / Source: Office of the President Republic of China (Taiwan) website)
She particularly thanked the U.S. for collaborating through platforms like the GCTF with countries such as Japan and Australia, enabling Taiwan to share its expertise and experience in multiple fields, including climate, environment, cybersecurity, media literacy, good governance, women's empowerment, and entrepreneurship, demonstrating the benefits of the solid Taiwan-U.S. partnership to the world.
