Taiwan and the Flanders region in Belgium on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance intergovernmental exchanges, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The MOU was signed virtually by Deputy Foreign Minister Harry Tseng (???) in Taipei and Julie Bynens, secretary-general of the Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office, in Belgium, with immediate effect, MOFA said in a press release.
The MOU was signed to enhance comprehensive cooperation and consultations mechanism between the two sides for closer government-to-government collaboration on all fronts, it said.
Based on the MOU, both sides will regularly hold talks via a joint commission to expand areas of cooperation, it said.
Both sides are now in talks to expand cooperation to digital economy, network security, and other areas of mutual benefit, it added.
Flanders – one of the three regions of Belgium-alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region – has already signed six MOUs with Taiwan covering investment, renewable energy, education, workforce employment, as well as vocational training, public health, and science, according to MOFA.
The legislature of Flanders also passed legislation in March 2021 to show support for Taiwan that called for deeper ties with the country as China continues to block it from meaningful engagement.
As a federal state, the communities and regions of Belgium conduct their own foreign relations and are able to conclude treaties independently.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel
