France and Australia held a "2+2 meeting" between foreign ministers and defense ministers in Paris. The joint statement after the meeting emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

(AFP)

[Reporter Lu Yixuan/Taipei Report] France and Australia announced on the 30th the second France-Australia 2+2 joint statement after August 2021, which not only reiterated support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, but also deepened relations with Taiwan, and emphasized the importance of the Taiwan Strait The importance of peace and stability.

And compared with the first statement, the friendship-Taiwan discussion has been significantly upgraded.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its high welcome and affirmation to this today, which demonstrates the firm stance of the two governments on friendship with Taiwan, and also highlights that peace across the Taiwan Strait is an indispensable part of the stability and prosperity of the international community.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defense Minister Richard Marles held a 2+2 ministerial meeting in Paris on January 30 , issued a joint statement after the meeting.

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According to the text released by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Article 24 of the statement reads: "The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of France and Australia jointly emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues through dialogue rather than threats, force or coercion. The minister reaffirmed his opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, and promised that both sides would work together to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, in accordance with the rules and regulations of international organizations. relation".

Compared with the first statement, the content of the second statement has escalated its support for Taiwan, adding three new points of discussion, including a special call on the two sides of the Strait to "peacefully resolve the issue through dialogue"; second, expressing its opposition to "unilateral changes in the status quo"; third, Positively emphasizes that it will continue to deepen relations with Taiwan in the fields of economy, technology, trade, technology and culture. This part is more specific and detailed than the 2021 version.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly welcomes and affirms this today.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that this is a continuation of France's consistent position after the release of the national strategic report in 2022, the new version of the Indo-Pacific strategy, the France-Japan 2+2 talks, and French Foreign Minister Coronne's repeated public opposition to unilateral changes in the status quo of the Taiwan Strait.

This statement demonstrates the firm stance of the governments of France and Australia on friendship with Taiwan, and also highlights that peace across the Taiwan Strait is an indispensable part of maintaining the stability and prosperity of the free and open Indo-Pacific region and the international community.

In the future, Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with international partners with similar ideas, and strive to achieve common goals and visions.