TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外交部) welcomed a nine-member Belgian delegation from Flanders Parliament Monday (Sept. 15), marking the first cross-party parliamentary visit since Belgium's June 2024 elections. The delegation, led by Flemish Parliament and Federal Senator Karl Vanlouwe, arrived Sunday (Sept. 14) for a six-day diplomatic mission through Friday (Sept. 19). The visit represents a significant milestone in strengthening Taiwan-Belgium parliamentary relations following recent political developments.
Taiwan's foreign ministry has orchestrated an extensive diplomatic program featuring high-level meetings and ceremonial events for the visiting parliamentarians. The delegation will attend a formal banquet hosted by Deputy Minister Wu Chih-chung (吳志中) and engage with Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, Deputy Secretary-General Chang Yu-jung (張裕榮). Meetings with international affairs departments of Taiwan's three major political parties will provide comprehensive insights into the island's democratic political landscape.
The parliamentary visitors will engage Taiwan's Control Yuan, the government's oversight body, National Human Rights Commission and National Development Council on crucial bilateral issues including economic cooperation, sustainable urban development, and human rights protection. Taiwan's foreign ministry emphasized Flanders' strategic importance as Belgium's financial center, housing Europe's second-largest port in Antwerp. The region encompasses the historic brewery city of Leuven and hosts the prestigious Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC), a global technology research hub.
The Flemish Parliament demonstrated strong support for Taiwan by unanimously passing a resolution in May to deepen economic partnerships with the island democracy. The current delegation features Belgian Federal Senators Jasper Pillen, Kelly Van Tendeloo, and Nawal Maghroud, accompanied by parliamentary members Sofie Joosen, Karolien Grosemans, Marianne Verhaert, Gilles Bultinck, and Nadia Naji. This cross-party composition reflects broad Belgian political consensus on strengthening ties with Taiwan across economic and diplomatic sectors. ◼
