Alaska Governor Dunleavy on 1st visit to Taiwan

Taipei, March 20 (CNA) Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy is visiting Taiwan for the first time since he took office in 2018 and will be meeting with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and other high-level officials to discuss enhancing bilateral trade, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

Dunleavy, who arrived Wednesday in Taiwan on a three-day visit, has already met with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), MOFA said in a press release.

The Republican governor and his delegation are scheduled to also meet with President Lai, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and attend a banquet hosted by Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺), MOFA said.

The main purpose of the delegation's visit is to explore further cooperation between Alaska and Taiwan in the areas of trade and economics, according to MOFA.

To that end, Governor Dunleavy and his delegation will also meet with Taiwan business representatives during the visit, the ministry said.

The delegation has been invited by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan to attend its annual Hsieh Nien Fan, a major social event for the international business community, which will be held Thursday night, according to MOFA.

Dunleavy was first elected governor of Alaska in 2018, defeating former Democratic Senator Mark Begich, and was reelected in 2022.

The State of Alaska has maintained a sister-state relationship with Taiwan since 1988, with a focus on economic ties in areas such as energy, agriculture, fisheries, tourism and mining, MOFA said.

Taiwan remains Alaska's fourth largest market in Asia, according to MOFA.