Taiwan's representative to the U.S. Stanley Kao (高碩泰, second right) and Taiwan's representative in Los Angeles Steve Hsia (夏季昌, left)/photo courtesy of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, April 3 (CNA) The Arizona State Legislature on Tuesday passed a resolution in support of a Taiwan-U.S. bilateral trade agreement and Taiwan's participation in international organizations.

Both chambers of the State Legislature adopted the resolution in support of Taiwan's international participation and stronger Taiwan-U.S. trade ties, according to a statement issued by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.

Stanley Kao (高碩泰), Taiwan's representative to the U.S., and Taiwan's representative in Los Angeles Steve Hsia (夏季昌) were invited to witness the adoption of the resolution, the statement said.

The resolution argued that Taiwan is the U.S.'s 10th largest export market and Arizona's seventh largest goods export market, and a bilateral trade deal would foster a more open and fair trade environment that would create more business and investment opportunities for the two sides.

The latest measures followed previous resolutions supporting a Taiwan-U.S. bilateral trade agreement and Taiwan's participation in various international organizations passed by the state's legislature in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Kao said during a luncheon that the friendship between Taiwan and Arizona has grown steadily as the two sides enjoy close exchanges in investment and trade and security, including Arizona supporting programs to train fighter pilots for Taiwan's Air Force.

(By Tsao Yu-fan and Evelyn Kao)
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