Former North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General and former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will visit Taiwan on January 3 next year.

(Reuters file photo)

[Reporter Yang Chengyu/Taipei Report] Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Ou Jiangan announced at a regular press conference today (29th) that the Alliance of Democracies Foundation (AoD), former Secretary-General of NATO and Prime Minister of Denmark, ) Chairman Anders Fogh Rasmussen is scheduled to visit Taiwan from January 3 to 5 next year (2023), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses his sincere welcome.

Ou Jiangan said that Rasmussen will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Qingde during this trip, and accept the banquet given by Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie. He will also communicate with legislators and think tank scholars, aiming at democracy and freedom, China's military threat to Taiwan Strait and regional peace and stability In-depth exchange of views on other major issues.

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Ou Jiangan pointed out that Rasmussen continued to urge the international community to pay attention to the security of the Taiwan Strait, and called on the international democratic community to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan, enhance democratic resilience and unity, and jointly respond to the challenge of authoritarian expansion. firm support.

Ou Jiangan mentioned that in order to promote the universal value of freedom and democracy, Rasmussen founded the "Democratic Alliance Foundation" in 2017 to strengthen the unity of the international democratic community; Democracy Summit), inviting heads of democratic countries and dignitaries from all over the world to attend.

In 2019, Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie went to Denmark to give a speech in person. Since 2020, President Tsai has been invited to give a speech every year, which has greatly increased the international community's attention and support for democratic Taiwan, Taiwan Strait security, and regional stability.

Ou Jiangan pointed out that Rasmussen served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 2001 to 2009 and as Secretary-General of NATO from 2009 to 2014. He is not only a politician with outstanding international reputation, but also a staunch international friend of Taiwan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again expressed its sincere welcome to Rasmussen's visit, and looks forward to continuing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with international democratic partners in the future to jointly safeguard the shared values ​​of freedom and democracy.

Legislator Lin Changzuo went to Denmark to attend the "Copenhagen Democracy Summit" in June this year and was invited to be a speaker. He once met with Rasmussen.

Lin Changzuo said in an interview today (29th) that he went to Copenhagen to attend the Democracy Summit in June this year, and met Chairman Rasmussen at the meeting.

In addition to communicating on the theme of the conference, he also invited Rasmussen to Taiwan if he had the opportunity.

Lin Changzuo said that it is very exciting to learn that Chairman Rasmussen will come to Taiwan next week. Thank you Chairman for expressing support for Taiwan with actions.

Over the past year, politicians from many countries have come to Taiwan one after another, including parliamentary groups from many countries, as well as the well-known Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, etc., demonstrating that Taiwan's international importance is constantly increasing.

Taiwan must seize this opportunity and work hand in hand with other countries to safeguard democracy and national security.