Luxembourg sets up representative office in Taipei to strengthen ties

"This is a part of the overall strategic economic positioning of Luxembourg in Asia, which includes setting up offices in Seoul, Shanghai, India, Dubai, Tokyo and Taipei," Hugues Mignot, the executive director of the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office, Taipei, told CNA in a telephone interview.

"Because of the improving relations at all levels with China, the world is even more attracted to Taiwan than before, as it looks at Taiwan as a hub for improving and developing additional relations with China," he added.

Chiu Jong-jen, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA's) Department of European Affairs, told CNA that the Foreign Ministry welcomes the establishment of the Luxembourg office, as it will help the Western European country to gain a better understanding of Taiwan's economic and political situation and boost bilateral exchanges.

Luxembourg, one the founders of the European Union, was the 17th European entity to open an office in Taiwan.

According to Mignot, the opening of the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office in Taipei follows a series of successful bilateral contacts between the two countries.

Mignot said there are already very strong economic links between the two sides but Luxembourg wants to develop new kinds of relationships with Taiwan.

He said he will work to reinforce the substance of the existing relations in such fields as air cargo, logistics, financial and investments funds management, Web hosting, radio and TV satellite management and shipping registration.

Taiwan and Luxembourg can also cooperate in areas of high-technology such as photovoltaic and healthcare research, he added.

Mignot, a Belgian who has served as director of the Belgium Office in Taipei over the past two decades, said that he was appointed to head the Luxembourg office because of his experience. The appointment demonstrates the diversity and openness of Luxembourg, which has three official languages and over 300,000 migrant workers from other European countries, he said.

Mignot's efforts to advance substantive bilateral relations between Taiwan and Europe have been highly recognized and lauded.

In 1987, Mignot was the first to propose the establishment of a European Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. In 2002, he started pushing for the establishment of a European Economic and Trade Office in Taipei, which was finally established in March 2003.

Other efforts of his led to the signing of the Taiwan-Belgium Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. Furthermore, he has spared no effort in promoting cooperation agreements between the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and National Science Council, and their Belgian counterparts.

As the top Luxembourg representative to Taiwan, Mignot vowed to work on a treaty between Taiwan and Luxembourg to avoid double taxation, and to promote academic and cultural exchanges.

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