MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Reynolds, Lane, Rogers (14th), Alday, Aldridge, Banks, Baria, Barton, Bennett, Blackmon, Boyd, Brown (66th), Burnett, Busby, Byrd, Calhoun, Campbell, Carpenter, Chism, Clark, Clarke, Coleman (65th), DeBar, Denny, Denton, Ellis, Eure, Evans (43rd), Evans (91st), Formby, Frierson, Gibbs, Hines, Horan, Howell, Huddleston (15th), Huddleston (30th), Kinkade, Ladner, Martinson, Massengill, Mettetal, Middleton, Miles, Monsour, Moore, Nelson, Oberhousen, Patterson, Pigott, Read, Rushing, Staples, Snowden, Steverson, Sullivan, Straughter, Taylor, Turner, Warren, Watson, White, Willis, Wooten, Young, Zuber
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) AND THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND WELCOMING THE HONORABLE DIRECTOR GENERAL LOUIS MIN-JING HUANG TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
WHEREAS, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the State of Mississippi have nurtured and maintained a friendship built upon unwavering bonds that will be beneficial and rewarding for both governments and their citizens now and in the future; and
WHEREAS, Director General Louis Min-Jing Huang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston will visit the State of Mississippi because the state has developed a strong relationship with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, which continually supports and encourages strong cooperation between our respective business communities; and
WHEREAS, the Republic of China (Taiwan) is the world's 21st largest economy and the United States' 10th largest trading partner, as well as the 5th largest market for agricultural products of the United States, and the United States ranks as Taiwan's 2nd largest trading partner; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi exported 48.7 Million Dollars in goods and services to Taiwan in 2013, and Taiwan ranks as the 8th largest export market in Asia for Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, because of a free trade agreement (FTA) and a bilateral investment agreement (BIA) between Taiwan and the United States, both of which are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and Taiwan's inclusion in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), most import quotas, duties and other trade barriers will be substantially reduced or eliminated, and market opportunities for Mississippi and the entire United States will expand; and
WHEREAS, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) represents a high-standard, comprehensive and forward-looking pathway for achieving a free trade area within the Asia-Pacific region, and Taiwan's inclusion in the TPP would lead to an overall economic gain of nearly Seventy-eight Billion Dollars in social welfare for the United States and other member countries; and
WHEREAS, given the important role Taiwan plays in commercial aviation and the global economy, it is vital that Taiwan participates as an observer in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to help coordinate efforts to improve safety and procedures and to develop a global strategy to address aviation security threats, and as an observer in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), because Taiwan will contribute greatly to the global efforts aimed at preventing natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety of the State of Mississippi and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China (Taiwan) have signed a mutual agreement enabling the exchange of the valid noncommercial driver's licenses, which marks a great achievement for the Mississippi-Taiwan bilateral relationship and will significantly benefit businessmen and students from both sides; and
WHEREAS, when Mississippi State University signed a MOU with National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, these two universities affirmed their intent to promote academic exchanges including development of mutually beneficial academic programs as well as exchange of faculty, students and other materials for the purpose of teaching, research and extension; and
WHEREAS, as the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Taiwan-Mississippi Sister-State agreement approaches, the citizens of the State of Mississippi delightedly embrace many more years of continued cooperation and friendship between the Magnolia State and Taiwan; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to promote and maintain viable relationships with industrious and democratic nations, such as the relationship between the State of Mississippi and the Republic of China (Taiwan):
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the relationship between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the State of Mississippi and welcome the Honorable Director General Louis Min-Jing Huang to the State of Mississippi, and encourage the future growth and friendship between the great state and illustrious nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Director General Louis Min-Jing Huang and to the members of the Capital Press Corps.