On July 8, 2024, Texas Governor Abbott met with Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen. Abbott expressed his pride in establishing the “Texas Trade Office in Taiwan,” highlighting the importance of bilateral economic relations. President Tsai mentioned that Abbott’s visit to Taiwan for the first time since taking office demonstrates mutual appreciation for democratic values shared between Taiwan and the United States.
The meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen and the “Texas Governor Abbott Economic and Trade Delegation” took place on the 7th. In his address, Abbott first thanked President Tsai for the warm welcome, emphasizing the close relationship between Taiwan and Texas demonstrated during the visit. Since arriving in Taiwan on the 6th, members of the delegation have felt the warmth and enthusiasm of the Taiwanese people at the airport, in the city, and during evening events. Abbott pledged that this visit would not be the last, underlining the significance of the relationship between Texas and Taiwan for the future of the world.
Abbott stated that Taiwan plays a crucial role on the international stage for various reasons, including trade, semiconductors, technology, innovation, and its contributions to global peace and democracy. He highlighted the close academic exchanges between Texas and Taiwan, stressing the importance of collaborations, including partnerships between universities.
“Trade is essential for the commercial and economic development of Taiwan, Texas, and the United States. I am delighted by the significant foreign investment from Taiwanese companies into Texas, surpassing investments from other U.S. states. The investments flow both ways, with Texas companies also making vital contributions to Taiwan,” Abbott remarked. He stressed the importance of foreign investments for business development but emphasized that deeper cooperation would enhance economic growth in both Taiwan and the United States, as well as strengthen partnerships with other allies worldwide, all united in shared values and ideologies.
Abbott expressed his pride in establishing the “Texas Trade Office in Taiwan,” highlighting the importance of bilateral economic relations. On a historic note, this marks the first time in the century that Texas has opened a business office outside Mexico, choosing Taiwan over many other countries worldwide, signifying Taiwan’s significance to Texas.
Additionally, Abbott shared his appreciation for Taiwanese businesses operating in Texas and highlighted the favorable environment for businesses in the state. He pledged personal assistance to ensure the smooth operation and development of all Taiwanese businesses in Texas, promising to support their success, which in turn would contribute to Texas’s overall growth.
Abbott stated that despite the already successful cooperation between Taiwan and Texas, he aims to further strengthen bilateral relations, envisioning increased opportunities for continued exchanges between the two parties.
In his address, President Tsai Ing-wen welcomed Governor Abbott and the Texas Economic and Trade Delegation to Taiwan. She thanked Abbott for his prompt congratulations after her re-election this year and acknowledged his visit as a reaffirmation of the shared democratic values between Taiwan and the United States.
President Tsai mentioned the deep relations between Taiwan and the renowned “Lone Star State” of Texas. Taiwanese investments in Texas have exceeded USD 12 billion, covering over ten industries. Notably, the investment of GlobalWafers in a semiconductor plant in Texas in 2022 was one of the top ten foreign investment projects in the United States that year. Additionally, Texas’s exports to Taiwan exceeded USD 11.5 billion last year, making Taiwan the ninth-largest export market for Texas.
President Tsai reiterated that Abbott’s visit included the opening ceremony of the “Texas Trade Office in Taiwan” and the signing of the “Economic Development Intent Declaration” with the Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs. These initiatives not only establish the 23rd U.S. state office in Taiwan but also pave the way for limitless, mutually beneficial opportunities for cooperation between Taiwanese and American businesses.
“Taiwan is currently focusing on promoting the five major trust industries, which include semiconductors, artificial intelligence, defense technology, security control, and next-generation communication, all of which can collaborate with Texas’s established industry clusters,” President Tsai stated.
President Tsai expressed gratitude for Abbott’s support in academic exchanges, citing the establishment of the first Chinese language center in the southern United States by the University of Houston at Sugar Land. The University of Texas at Austin established the first Taiwan Studies Center in the southern United States in 2021, further enhancing research on Taiwan-related issues and academic life. She also acknowledged the unanimous passage of a pro-Taiwan resolution by both chambers of the Texas Legislature in May last year, reaffirming Texas’s steadfast partnership with Taiwan and echoing the state’s motto, “Friendship.”
President Tsai concluded by congratulating the establishment of the “Texas Trade Office in Taiwan,” believing it will become a cornerstone of the strong friendship between Taiwan, Texas, and the United States, further solidifying and deepening the Taiwan-U.S. partnership. She wished Governor Abbott and all visiting guests a successful and fruitful trip.
The visiting delegation also included representatives such as Jane Nelson, Secretary of State for the Texas government, accompanied by Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu, who accompanied the delegation for the meeting with President Tsai at the Presidential Office. National Security Council Secretary-General David Tawei Lee was also present at the event.