Xiao Meiqin attends US Chamber 75th, urges stronger Taiwan‑US trade ties.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham) held a grand celebration on the 6th to mark its 75th anniversary, with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim attending as a guest of honor and delivering a keynote address. In her remarks, Hsiao clearly stated that Taiwan and the United States should continue to deepen their partnership, consolidating a bilateral friendship that remains vital and enduring. She emphasized that the solidity and high resilience of cross-Strait relations are primarily founded on shared democratic interests and universal values, and are further strengthened by increasingly deep mutual investments and industrial integration. These efforts jointly achieve economic prosperity and secure development for both sides, demonstrating a high degree of strategic mutual trust.

Hsiao further elaborated that the current economic and trade landscape between Taiwan and the United States has undergone a structural transformation. The relationship has evolved beyond traditional, simple goods trade into a close strategic partnership characterized by joint cooperation and shared development. This shift is reflected in the recent reorganization of bilateral supply chains, deep cooperation in high-tech industries, and the continuous rise in two-way investment figures. Taiwanese companies have established a significant presence in the U.S. semiconductor, electric vehicle, and green energy sectors, while American firms continue to cultivate their roots in the Taiwan market. This dynamic proves that Taiwan plays an indispensable and critical role in the global high-tech industrial chain.

Looking back on the 75-year history of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan, the organization has witnessed Taiwan’s arduous yet brilliant transformation from a traditional agricultural society and export-processing economy into a global high-tech hub. Over the years, AmCham has served as a crucial communication bridge between U.S. businesses and the Taiwan government. Through its annual white papers, it offers constructive policy recommendations on core issues such as the regulatory environment, energy policy, talent development, and financial regulation. These recommendations have not only assisted the Taiwan government in continuously optimizing the investment environment but have also significantly enhanced the alignment of the Taiwan market with international regulations and standards, contributing substantially to the internationalization of Taiwan’s overall economy.

From the perspective of macro international economic and trade strategy, the deepening of cross-Strait relations holds irreplaceable significance amid the current backdrop of geopolitical turbulence. As global supply chains face pressures of "de-risking" and restructuring, the close economic and trade cooperation between Taiwan and the United States not only helps ensure the secure supply of critical materials and cutting-edge technologies but also enables both sides to jointly resist external economic coercion. Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s address at the 75th-anniversary celebration not only affirmed the organization’s long-standing contributions but also sent a clear signal to the international community that Taiwan will continue to serve as a solid, reliable, and indispensable economic and trade and strategic partner for the United States.

Looking ahead, there remains vast room and potential for the development of cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation. With the advancement of various bilateral economic and trade initiatives, both sides are expected to engage in deeper dialogue and substantive cooperation in forward-looking fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, green transition, and supply chain resilience. As a core civil force driving cross-Strait relations, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan will continue to play a key role in the future, assisting businesses in both regions in seizing commercial opportunities and promoting the harmonization of policies and regulations. The deepening of cross-Strait relations has not only created bilateral economic benefits but has also laid a solid foundation for prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

(Source: CNA)