Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Attends Spain's National Day to Deepen Cooperation

Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wu Chih-chung, was invited to attend the Spanish National Day reception held in the Spanish capital of Madrid on the 16th. Hosted by the Spanish Parliament, the reception aimed to celebrate Spain's independence day and brought together friendly figures from various countries. During the event, Wu expressed his gratitude to the Spanish Parliament and individuals from various sectors for their support of Taiwan's participation in the international community, and he expressed hope that both sides could further deepen their partnership to jointly defend shared values such as freedom and democracy. This move once again highlights Taiwan's determination to seek broader diplomatic space on the international stage.

The relationship between Taiwan and Spain has evolved across multiple dimensions. Although formal diplomatic ties remain limited due to diplomatic pressure from mainland China, the two countries maintain close interactions in the economic, cultural, and technological fields. Since 2008, the two sides have signed multiple cooperation agreements covering agricultural technology, information technology, and the tourism industry. Spain is also one of Taiwan's important trading partners in Europe, with bilateral trade volume increasing year by year, and the two maintain a consensus on various international issues. Wu's participation this time was aimed precisely at further consolidating these informal relations and seeking more substantive cooperation opportunities.

At the reception, Wu mentioned that Taiwan is willing to continue promoting the initiative of "Taiwan's international participation" and called on Spain and the international community to jointly support Taiwan in securing a greater voice in international organizations such as the United Nations. This stance is not only an affirmation of Taiwan's sovereignty and democratic system, but also echoes the international community's diverse interpretations of the "one China" policy. Wu pointed out that Taiwan's advantages in technological innovation and manufacturing can provide Spain with an important partnership in digital transformation and green energy, further strengthening bilateral mutual benefit.

From a broader perspective, cooperation between Taiwan and Spain is not limited to the economic sphere, but also encompasses shared democratic values and international security issues. In recent years, Taiwan has played an important role in public health and humanitarian aid within the international community, to which Spain has also paid close attention. The two sides already have preliminary cooperation frameworks in information security, cyber defense, and human rights issues, which could be further expanded into regional security consultations in the future. Wu also stated that Taiwan will continue to face regional and global challenges together with Spain in a peaceful and cooperative manner.

In summary, Wu's appearance at the Spanish National Day reception symbolizes Taiwan's continuous pursuit of broader diplomatic space and cooperative partners on the international stage. Through such informal occasions, Taiwan is able to deepen interactions with European countries free from official diplomatic restrictions and promote the concept of "Taiwan's international participation." Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to work hand in hand with Spain and other friendly nations to promote the common goals of democracy, freedom, and economic prosperity, built on a foundation of substantive contributions and shared values. (Source of facts: Central News Agency)