• Created：2011-05-14
• Data Source：Bureau Of Consular Affairs
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No. 149 
May 13, 2011

At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Dr. Charles Tannock, Chairman of the European Parliament (EP)-Taiwan Friendship Group, will lead a nine-member delegation to Taiwan from May 15 to May 20, 2011. The delegation is composed of members from the four main European Parliamentary Groups: the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the Group of Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR) and the Europe for Freedom and Democracy Party. The delegation consists of the following EP members: Dr. Charles Tannock, Mr. David Bannerman, Mr. Martin Callanan, Mr. Roger Helmer, Ms. Antonyia Parvanova and Mr. Boris Zala. 

Chairman Tannock, thrice elected as a Member of the European Parliament since 1999, assumed the helm of the EP-Taiwan Friendship Group in July 2009. He currently is also an EP Foreign Affairs Committee member and the ECR Party co-coordinator in the committee. In the last 5 years, he has frequently taken concrete actions to extend his support for Taiwan.

The delegation will 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 and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lyushun Shen. The members also will call at the Council for Economic Planning and Development, the Kuomintang Party, the Democratic Progressive Party, and the European Economic and Trade Office. In addition, they will tour the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, as well as Chimei Corporation, Chimei Museum in Tainan and other cultural establishments. 

Except for Chairman Tannock, this marks the first time for the delegation members to visit Taiwan. This trip aims to give the delegation a better understanding of Taiwan’s most recent political and economic developments. (E)