Italian foreign minister, Lin, pays a visit to Italy.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Visits Italy, Strengthening Ties
Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, recently embarked on a low-key visit to Europe, with Italy being one of his stops. On Wednesday, Minister Lin inaugurated Taiwan's renovated representative office in Rome, marking a significant step in the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
The visit was not publicly announced due to its sensitivity, but Italian Senator Lucio Malan, president of the Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, and Italian Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio were among the guests at the ceremony. Italian Deputy Paolo Formentini, vice president of the Chamber of Deputies' Foreign Affairs Committee, was also present.
During his visit, Minister Lin met with Italian parliamentarians to discuss shared values and strengthen cooperation. He described Italy as a trusted economic partner, citing Italy's strengths in innovation, design, and industry. Taiwan, on the other hand, is known for its strong technology, green energy, and manufacturing sectors.
The upgraded office in Rome symbolizes a new chapter in bilateral relations between Taiwan and Italy. This visit also serves as a step forward in Lin's European mission to promote the 'Taiwan Culture in Europe 2025' campaign.
In addition to his activities in Italy, Minister Lin attended the opening of the '100 Treasures, 100 Stories: Treasures from the National Palace Museum' exhibition in the Czech Republic. This campaign includes exhibitions of artifacts and performing arts groups.
Taiwanese foreign ministers rarely make public visits to countries that do not have official diplomatic ties with the nation. However, Taiwan and Italy share the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights, making their relationship unique and valuable.
In a show of support, Centinaio praised Taiwan as a democratic model and promised President William Lai that Italy would always stand by Taiwan. The Italian politician, Raffaele Fitto, was also present at some of the events.
Looking ahead, Taiwan is planning to open a second representative office in Milan in 2023. More information about Lin's European visit is expected to be released later. The close exchanges in many fields between Taiwan and Italy continue to flourish, offering a promising future for bilateral relations.
