2025-11-01
On the afternoon of October 31, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein. In remarks, President Lai thanked the governor for his visit, showing high regard and friendship for Taiwan. The president expressed hope to continue deepening collaboration in such areas as economic and trade ties, biotechnology and healthcare, electric vehicles, and AI, with joint efforts yielding mutually beneficial results.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
It is a pleasure to welcome Governor Stein as he leads a delegation to Taiwan during his first year in office. This is the first time in 25 years that a governor from North Carolina has visited Taiwan. Your presence not only demonstrates high regard and friendship for Taiwan, but also shows that our bilateral relations are rising to new heights.
Taiwan and North Carolina have maintained a sister-state relationship for over 40 years. In the past decade and more, numerous Taiwanese companies have invested in North Carolina, further deepening our economic and trade cooperation. In 2023, North Carolina made Taiwan the site of its ninth overseas office, using Taiwan as a core base to connect with Southeast Asia, China, and other Asian markets. This has helped build a strong cooperative network and made the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and North Carolina all the more dynamic.
I understand that North Carolina’s economic performance is very impressive. The state not only boasts a highly skilled workforce and a friendly investment environment; it is also home to the largest research-focused science park in the United States – Research Triangle Park (RTP), which contains a wealth of talent and resources from industry, government, academia, and the research sector. Currently, the park’s main industries include information technology, automobile manufacturing, and biomedicine and pharmaceuticals. These are also sectors in which Taiwan shines.
Taiwanese electric vehicle and semiconductor companies participated in the SelectUSA Investment Summit both this year and in 2023, with delegations visiting North Carolina to explore the investment environment and identify opportunities for collaboration. I am confident that if Taiwan and North Carolina can join forces to deepen collaboration in such areas as biotechnology and healthcare, electric vehicles, and AI, this will undoubtedly make significant contributions to Taiwan-US economic and trade exchanges, as well as future human welfare.
I would like to thank the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for approving in August the inclusion of Taiwan’s Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language in the state’s Seal of Biliteracy framework. This has laid a deeper foundation for enhancing Taiwan-US relations. I also wish to thank the North Carolina General Assembly for passing Taiwan-friendly resolutions for five consecutive years. These have supported Taiwan’s international participation and encouraged the negotiation of a bilateral trade agreement between Taiwan and the US.
Recent US tariff policies, while posing challenges to the global economic order, have also created new opportunities for Taiwan-US economic and trade cooperation. Taiwan will continue to deepen economic and trade relations with the US. Through joint efforts, we look forward to reciprocal tariff negotiations yielding timely, mutually beneficial results.
Finally, I thank Governor Stein once again for his support of Taiwan. Please feel free to visit anytime; Taiwan will always welcome you with open arms. I wish the delegation a smooth and successful trip.
Governor Stein then delivered remarks, first stating that it is a tremendous honor to visit on behalf of the state of North Carolina and extending appreciation for the consideration he and his delegation received. The governor then expressed his concern for those impacted by Typhoon Ragasa and condolences to the families who lost loved ones, mentioning that a similarly devastating storm hit North Carolina one year ago, and that they are still working hard to recover. He stated that they are grateful for Taiwan’s generous contribution to North Carolina in their time of need.
Governor Stein indicated that this is his first visit to Taiwan, and that he is already deeply impressed by the incredible energy and spirit of innovation that defines this island. He said that it is immediately clear to him that the partnership between North Carolina and Taiwan has the potential to grow even stronger. North Carolina and Taiwan, he said, are both bound by a deep and abiding appreciation for democracy, a shared commitment to free enterprise, and a mutual drive to innovate and build a more prosperous and sustainable future for our people. Noting that the delegation is in Taiwan on a commercial mission, Governor Stein said that they hold much admiration for the economic powerhouse that the people of Taiwan have built. He also said that they see much overlap between both economies and great opportunity to strengthen our economic ties. Already, a number of Taiwanese companies operate in North Carolina, he said, and many are considering investments there.
The governor went on to say that North Carolina is proud to have been ranked the number one state for business in the US this year, and has achieved this ranking three times in the past four years. It is also the third fastest-growing state by population, he said. The governor stated that North Carolina has many factors working in its favor, including RTP, the largest science park in the US; a relatively low cost of doing business with electricity, land, construction, labor, and taxes; a convenient location; excellent infrastructure; and an agreeable quality of life.
Governor Stein then emphasized that North Carolina’s greatest asset is its people, noting that it has excellent universities and community colleges that train its workforce to meet the needs of various critical economic sectors in the state such as life sciences, information technology, semiconductors, AI, aerospace, the automotive industry, advanced manufacturing, finance, and agriculture.
The governor said that there is strong overlap between North Carolina’s economy and Taiwan’s Five Trusted Industry Sectors, and that they look forward to growing commercial ties. Over time, he said, strong economic ties become strong cultural ties, which bring people closer together, and they look forward to enjoying that future together.
Source： Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)
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