• Created：2011-06-11
• Data Source：Bureau Of Consular Affairs
• Counter：2275

No. 189 
June 10, 2011

At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Mr. Hans van Baalen, Vice Chairman of the EP-Taiwan Friendship Group, and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Alexander Kolks, will visit Taiwan from June 13 to June 16, 2011. 

Mr. Hans van Baalen was elected as an MEP in July 2009 and is the spokesperson for the Dutch Liberal Party in the Group for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in the European Parliament. He was subsequently elected President of Liberal International in November 2009. 

During his visit, Mr. Hans van Baalen will have an audience with President Ma and call on Premier Wu Den-yih, Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng, Secretary General of the National Security Council Hu Wei-Jen, Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council Lai Shin-yuan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lyushun Shen, Deputy Minister of National Defense Andrew Yang, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Francis Kuo-Hsin Liang, Vice Chairman of Kuomintang Party John Hsiao-yen Chiang and Chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party Tsai Ing-Wen. He will also meet with representatives from China Airlines, EVA Air and the European Chamber of Commerce Taipei. Both Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Lyushun Shen and Representative of the Netherlands Trade and Investment Office Mr. Hans Fortuin will welcome the delegation by hosting banquets in their honor.

Mr. Hans van Baalen is a longtime friend of Taiwan and has visited Taiwan several times. He was instrumental in the sponsoring and passage of two resolutions in the Parliament of the Netherlands in 2003 and 2005 against the lifting of the EU arms embargo on mainland China and in support of Taiwan’s participation in the WHO as an observer in the WHA. This visit will help enhance his understanding of Taiwan’s current cross-strait and foreign policies. (E)