UK envoy visits Taiwan to bolster trade relations
Richard Faulkner last visited Taiwan in 2018, and is set to give a keynote speech at the Better Business Awards, during his stay
British trade envoy to Taiwan Richard Faulkner is to visit the nation for a week to strengthen UK-Taiwan trade and investment relations, the British Office in Taipei said in a statement on Thursday.
Faulkner, who arrived on Thursday evening and is scheduled to depart on Thursday, is to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday next week to discuss economic and trade collaboration with Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花), the office said.
Faulkner would also be celebraing the 40th anniversary of Chevening scholarships with Taiwanese partners and Chevening alumni, and is expected to give a keynote speech at the Better Business Awards ceremony hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, the office said.
He is to discuss the UK’s renewable energy experience in Penghu County and also attend the UK-Taiwan Net Zero Academic Research Forum on Tuesday, to enhance research collaboration on transitioning to net zero emissions in a just and sustainable way, it added.
The office said that Faulkner was looking forward to visiting Taiwan again and contributing to the partnership between the two sides, adding that “bilateral links have grown stronger and deeper since my last visit in 2018.”
The office said the UK and Taiwan started official talks in July as part of the new UK-Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership that covered topics including energy and net zero emissions, digital trade and two-way investment.
The office added that both sides share the goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and have been collaborating on renewable energy development and climate transition plans for almost 20 years.
Faulkner yesterday led 10 British renewable-energy businesses participating in the 18th UK-Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference, and shared the UK’s best practices on offshore wind development and emerging technologies such as low carbon hydrogen and smart grid, the office said.