Medal conferred on outgoing Canadian representative to Taiwan

Taipei, July 21 (CNA) Canada's representative to Taipei Jim Nickel has been presented the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy in recognition of his efforts and contributions to enhancing bilateral relations between Taiwan and Canada.

Nickel was conferred the medal by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Monday just weeks before he leaves his post in early August after having assumed office in September 2022.

Speaking with reporters after the event, Nickel said two outstanding matters related to Taiwan-Canada partnerships that he has been working on have yet to be finalized and that he hoped to complete one of the negotiations before his departure.

He said the second matter, related to economic and trade cooperation, would likely be resolved by the end of the year, but he did not provide any further details on either of the initiatives.

Nickel also revealed that his successor will be Marie-Louise Hannan, a senior official at Canada's foreign ministry responsible for South Asia affairs. Hannan previously served in Taiwan from 2002 to 2005 and is well acquainted with the island, he said.

The diplomat, who will become Canada's ambassador to Vietnam after leaving his post in Taiwan, said he welcomed Hannan's arrival at such a high point in bilateral relations and stressed that Canada is keen to further deepen its cooperation with Taiwan across various sectors.

Nickel described his three-year tenure in Taiwan as "satisfying," and said his personal life in Taiwan was also enjoyable and that he had visited nearly every city and county and offshore island.

In his remarks, Lin praised Nickel for facilitating key agreements during his tenure, including the signing of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement (FIPA) and advancing cooperation on technology, health, and strategic dialogue.

Lin also noted that Canada became a full partner in August 2024 of the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), which serves as a platform for sharing Taiwan's expertise and strengthening cooperation on global challenges.