Headline

President Tsai vows to strengthen Taiwan-EU ties for future success at Eu-rope Day banquet On May 15, President Tsai Ing-wen celebrated strong Taiwan-EU ties at the Europe Day banquet organized by the European Chamber of Com-merce Taiwan (ECCT). Head of the European Economic and Trade Of-fice in Taiwan Madeleine Majorenko and ECCT Chairman Giuseppe Izzo also joined the event. President Tsai said that Taiwan is committed to working even closer with the EU in strengthening ex-changes and creating more opportu-nities for the people of both sides and throughout the Indo-Pacific. She stressed that Taiwan and the EU are natural partners and will cooperate in many different sectors to devise in-novative approaches to tackling un-precedented challenges and threats posed by authoritarian regimes. Tsai stated that the government is looking to take Taiwan-EU relations to new heights on the back of a bi-lateral investment agreement. Tsai also took the opportunity to thank the EU’s support of Taiwan’s participation in the activities, mecha-nisms and meetings of the World Health Organization, and that Taiwan can help realize Health For All.

International

Walk with Taiwan: Inter-national community shows solidarity On May 16, the Taipei Representa-tive Office in the EU and Belgium successfully held a peaceful demon-stration “Walk with Taiwan.” A short walk to show solidarity with Taiwan in support of its participation in the World Health Organization (WHO).

The message was siTaAmbassador nied a group of Bebourgexchange stthe EU an 500 people partiamong them EU and Belgian parliaments, and other Georges coParliamentary Friendship Group,H.E. Jeraldine EbiH.E. Moses Kouni MoseIslands(Tuvalu)dino MotesAndries DestrebecqkindliPresident of the European Economic and SMalosse.Ambassador nalistsdemonstrate that Tacratic, free, lawmanlikesame time we call on the internal community to considerable prthe World Health Assembly.”1ficeswith Taiwanlocal and iTaiwan.

Historic wan maOn May ment legalizing

Editorial: Taipei Representative Office in the EU and BelgiumWebsite: http://www.roc-taiwan.org/be_en/index.html

E-mail: infobel@mofa.gov.tw

Tel: +32(0)2/287.28.16 or +32(0)2/287.28.11

The message was simple: “Support Taiwan, Support Democracy.” Ambassador Harry Tseng accompa-nied by diplomatic allies, headed up a group of Belgium and Luxem-bourg-based compatriots, foreign exchange students and friends from the EU and Belgium. 500 people participated in the walk, among them political figures from the EU and Belgian parliaments, and other friends of the office, including Georges Dallemagne, MP, co-President of the Belgium-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, H.E. Jeraldine Ebil Tudong (Palau), H.E. Moses Kouni Mose (Solomon Islands), H.E. Aunese Makoi Simat (Tuvalu), H.E. Mauricio Lautaro San-dino Motes (Nicaragua), Senator Andries Gryffroy, Senator Olivier Destrebecq, Senator Simone Suss-kind, Member of the Walloon Par-liament Charles Gardier and 30

th

President of the European Economic and Social Committee Henri Malosse. Ambassador Harry Tseng told jour-nalists, “We’re taking to the streets to demonstrate that Taiwan is a demo-cratic, free, law-based and hu-man-rights respecting nation, a like-minded partner for the EU. At the same time we call on the internation-al community to be aware of the considerable political pressure that prevents Taiwan from participating in the World Health Assembly.” 12 other Taipei Representative Of-fices in Europe held their own “Walk with Taiwan” rallying and showcasing local and international support for Taiwan.

Historic Milestone! Tai-wan legalizes same-sex marriage On May 17, the Taiwanese Parlia-ment passed a landmark decision legalizing same-sex marriage, mak-

ing Taiofficially suppo According to President Tsai, Taiwan took a big step towards true equality, making This landmark decision by the LGBT community in Taiwan. Deputy Rights Watch a, “tremendous victory for LGBT rights” will encourage neigto follow The vote was the ConstitMay 2017marriage is ugovernment was given until 24 May 2019 to change the lawcouples can now offtheir ma

Heartwarming short shows how Taiwan Can Help advance global healthOn May Affairs City-based Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundationshort-film13-minute film documents how three medical professionals from the Vetnam National Children’s Hospital are working wonders for cleft lip and palate patients by utilizing ing and skills CranioMemorial Hospital in Taoyuan City, Taiwan.The film wan is ready, willing and able to takpart in the activities, mechand meetings of the World Health Organization while helping realize its primary oThe Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundtion was fDr. Samuel Noordhoff from the U.S.

Editorial: Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium taiwan.org/be_en/index.html

)2/287.28.11

Friday, May 17, 2019

iwan the first Asian country to officially support same-sex unions.

According to President Tsai, Taiwan took a big step towards true equality, making Taiwan a better country.

landmark decision was heralded by the LGBT community in Taiwan. Deputy Asia Director of Human Rights Watch Phil Robertson called it

tremendous victory for LGBT He hopes that this decision courage neighboring countries

follow Taiwan’s footsteps. The vote was the result of a ruling of

Constitutional Court which said in May 2017 that denying same-sex

riage is unconstitutional. The ernment was given until 24 May

2019 to change the law. Same-sex ples can now officially register

their marriage from 24 May.

Health

Heartwarming short shows how Taiwan Can Help advance global health On May 14, the Ministry of Foreign

(MOFA) and Taipei based Noordhoff Craniofacial

Foundation released a heartwarming film titled “Plant Love.” The

minute film documents how three medical professionals from the Vi-etnam National Children’s Hospital are working wonders for cleft lip and alate patients by utilizing the train-

and skills they received at the iofacial Center of Chang Gung

rial Hospital in Taoyuan City, Taiwan.

he film also demonstrates that Tai-is ready, willing and able to take

part in the activities, mechanisms and meetings of the World Health

ganization while helping realize its primary objective of Health for All.

Noordhoff Craniofacial Founda-was founded in 1990 by the late

Samuel Noordhoff from the U.S.