Filipino liberal legislators visit Taipei; forge stronger ties with Taiwanese liberal democrats

(July 14, 2004/ Manila) A group of five parliamentarians from the Liberal Party of the Philippines leaves today for Taipei for a three-day visit. The delegation will meet various Taiwanese government officials, key officers of the Democratic Progressive Party and representatives from the influential business sector. LP and DPP are both founding members of the Council of Asian Liberals & Democrats.

The delegation will meet H.E. Mark Chen, Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Madame Fu-mei Chang, Minister for Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission; Hon. Chiu I-jen, Secretary General, National Security Council; Mr. Lai Chin-lin, Vice Minister of the Council of Labor Affairs of the Executive Yuan; Mr. Steve Chen, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs; and Mr. Chang Chun-hsiung, DPP Secretary General. The delegation will also visit the Taipei County Government, Taiwan External Trade Development Council and the Tai Sugar Company.

The members of the delegation are Representatives Herminaldo Mandanas (2nd District, Batangas), Danilo Suarez (3rd District, Quezon Province), Lorenzo Tanada III (4th District, Quezon Province), Reynaldo Uy (1st District, Western Samar) and Matias Defensor (3rd District, Quezon City). They were accompanied by Mr. Jim Hung, a Manila-based Taiwanese businessman and DPP supporter. The DPP International Affairs Department and the CALD Secretariat assisted in the preparations of the visit.

Only recently, the Philippine Congress proclaimed H.E. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as President of thePhilippines after six weeks since the May 10 National Elections. The Liberal Party is part of the ruling coalition which supported the candidacy of Madam Arroyo. Like the Taiwanese presidential elections last March 20, the Philippine presidential elections were bitterly contested with the outcome subjected to protests by the opposition.

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (through resolutions No. 3 and 6) strongly believes that the victories of Mr. Chen and Mrs. Arroyo reflect the true will of the Taiwanese and Filipino peoples, respectively. CALD is also of the conviction that the successes of the DPP and LP in their elections will contribute to the advancement of democracy not only in the two countries but also in the entire region as well.

The visit of the liberal parliamentarians is expected to strengthen ties between LP and DPP in particular and between the Philippines and Taiwan in general.

Categorised in: News Article

This post was written by CALD