On Wednesday Premier Chen Chien-jen received outgoing French Office in Taipei Director Jean-Franois Casabonne-Masonnave and thanked him for proactively promoting a wide variety of exchanges between Taiwan and France during his four-year tenure. The premier said he hopes that Director Casabonne-Masonnave will continue to provide warm support for Taiwan on returning to his country, so that more French people can appreciate Taiwan's beauty and merits and build upon the already solid friendship between the two nations.
The premier emphasized that Director Casabonne-Masonnave has played an important role in assisting the French government to formulate a clear and unequivocal Taiwan policy. In many multilateral settings and through various bilateral channels, including recent joint statements with Japan and Australia, high-level officials in France have publicly reaffirmed their support for peace across the Taiwan Strait and their opposition to any unilateral change to the status quo. France has amply demonstrated its resolve to participate in Indo-Pacific affairs and uphold regional peace and stability, the premier said.
Director Casabonne-Masonnave in his remarks said that France considers Taiwan a worthy and reliable partner for cooperation, with both sides engaging in exchanges and collaboration in areas such as culture, human rights and innovation. In October this year, France will launch a new collaborative project with Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs. Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration—soon to elevate its status to Ministry of the Environment—will also send a delegation to France the same month to meet with French environmental conservation experts. The director said he is confident Taiwan and France will continue to advance bilateral relations and cooperation into the future.