SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 48

(By Senators Kessler (Mr. President), Yost, Stollings, Plymale, Snyder, Beach, Carmichael, Laird, D. Hall, Green, McCabe, Wells and Prezioso)

Recognizing the sister-state relationship of West Virginia with the Republic of China (Taiwan) on the occasion of its thirty-fourth anniversary.

    Whereas, August 4, 2014, will mark the thirty-fourth anniversary of a sister-state relationship between West Virginia and Taiwan; and

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

    Whereas, In the year 2014, the West Virginia Senate urges support for a United States-Taiwan bilateral investment agreement and strongly encourages Taiwan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership as soon as possible; and

    Whereas, The dedication of our partners from Taiwan to achieving positive outcomes in investment, information, communication technology services and other areas is a testament to Taiwan’s economic opening and deepening ties with regional and global partners; and

    Whereas, The Republic of China (Taiwan), with a population of twenty-three million, has endeavored to improve cross-Strait relations since President Ma Ying-Jeou came to power in 2008, and it is encouraging that eight rounds of talks have been held and eighteen agreements have been signed between Taiwan and mainland China since then; and

    Whereas, The cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), signed on June 29, 2010, can serve as an effective platform for cross-Strait interactions and contribute to normalization of trade and economic relations between Taiwan and mainland China; and

    Whereas, Taiwan’s absence from the international organizations dealing with climate change like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has impeded Taiwan’s ability to respond to natural disasters like Typhoon Morakot, which struck Taiwan in the summer of 2009; 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 2012, and four hundred sixteen Americans traveled to Taiwan for business and leisure during 2012. Consolidating aviation safety and regulation in Taiwan is also a priority for Americans’ safety and best interests; given Taiwan’s prominent role in regional air control and transport services like meaningful participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), it would be beneficial for Taiwan to safeguard the traveling of passengers from home and abroad; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate:

    That the Senate hereby recognizes the sister-state relationship of West Virginia with the Republic of China (Taiwan) on the occasion of its thirty-fourth anniversary; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Senate affirms its support for West Virginia’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives from the Republic of China (Taiwan).