SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 46

(By Senators Kessler, Prezioso. Williams, Yost, Stollings and Plymale)

Reaffirming the Senate of West Virginia’s commitment to the strong and deepening relationship between Taiwan and West Virginia.

            Whereas, Taiwan and United States are long-standing friends with a shared historical relationship and dearly cherished values of freedom, democracy and human rights; and

            Whereas, August 4, 2015, will mark the thirty-fifth anniversary of the sister state relationship between West Virginia and Taiwan; and

            Whereas, For the past thirty-five years, the sister state relationship with Taiwan has been strengthened, through the efforts of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) resulting in better mutual understanding; and

            Whereas, In 2014, West Virginia exported more than $41 million to Taiwan, making it our twenty-sixth largest export market in the world. Taiwan is not only a friendly sister state of West Virginia but also a key trading partner; and

            Whereas, Bilateral trade between the United States and Taiwan reached $63 billion in 2014, making Taiwan the United States’ twelfth largest trading partner in the world. The United States is Taiwan’s third largest trading partner; and

            Whereas, By working together with Taiwan, West Virginia welcomes all opportunities for an even closer economic partnership, such as the signing of a US-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement and a Free Trade Agreement in order to enhance the special sister state bond between West Virginia and Taiwan and to encourage further cultural, educational and business exchanges between our citizens; and

            Whereas, The United States and eleven other countries are negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a twenty-first century trade agreement which will boost all members economic growth; Taiwan’s inclusion in the TPP will further strengthen bilateral economic relations and enhance the welfare of the United States and benefit all TPP partners; and

            Whereas, Taiwan is an active member in the international community with a long history of commitment to international health and humanitarian aid; Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) will benefit the other countries in the world; and

            Whereas, The Taoyuan International Airport is a key air transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region, ranked the world’s fifteenth largest by cargo volume in 2013, and more than four hundred eleven thousand Americans traveled to Taiwan in 2013, Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will enhance the safety and services of the air transportation in the world; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate:

            That the Senate hereby reaffirms West Virginia’s commitment to the strong and deepening relationship between Taiwan and West Virginia; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Senate reaffirms the sister state relationship between the state of West Virginia and Taiwan, strengthening bilateral trade relations and affirms to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization; and be it

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Dr. Lyushun Shen, the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.