House Concurrent Resolution 41

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING FRIENDSHIP AND ENCOURAGING FURTHER ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN).

WHEREAS, the longstanding bonds of friendship between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan), embodied in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, continue to yield important economic, strategic and cultural benefits; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan ranks as the United States' ninth largest trading partner, and in 2020, bilateral trade in goods reached $90.9 billion, and as the seventh largest export market for

United States agricultural products in 2019, Taiwan's biennial agricultural trade goodwill missions have resulted in multibillion-dollar supply deals and its annually dispatched delegations to the SelectUSA Investment Summit has boosted investment; and

WHEREAS, with Taiwan's recent action to lift restrictions on United States beef and pork beginning January 2021, bilateral trade between the nations will be significantly enhanced, and since the robust United States-Taiwan trade and investment partnership has provided a solid foundation for a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement, job creation has been increased and the global market and secure international supply chains have been further expanded, and because of its exceptional efforts, Taiwan is well positioned to play an important role augmenting the revitalization of the global supply chain as part of the post-pandemic economic recovery; and

WHEREAS, committed to helping address global challenges, from humanitarian crises to nontraditional security threats, Taiwan has emerged as an important partner in pandemic prevention, providing 54 million surgical masks and other PPE to more than 80 countries around the world, including 100,000 surgical masks and 10,000 N95 masks to the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, outstandingly, the Taiwan Model is world renowned for its effective pandemic prevention and containment, bolstering unprecedented international support for Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Taiwanese officials and civil society groups have partnered with the United States on a range of issues to promote common values of freedom, democracy and human rights, and in March 2020, Taiwan joined with the United States to establish the Partnership against Coronavirus, building on the cooperative tradition of prior joint partnerships such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, which advances Taiwanese leadership in such arenas as democratization, human rights, women's empowerment and public health; and

WHEREAS, since 1983, the State of Mississippi and Taiwan have maintained a sister-state relationship, and they enjoy particularly close economic ties, as Taiwan is the Magnolia State's 5th largest export partner in Asia, with the state exporting $43 million in goods and services to Taiwan in 2020; and

WHEREAS, to advance further beneficial ties between the State of Mississippi and Taiwan, the establishment of a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan is encouraged to enhance the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in trade and investment; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi and the United States have benefited immeasurably through decades of unwavering friendship with Taiwan, and the world is sure to reap tremendous rewards as Taiwan works to enhance its presence in the international community; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to encourage the strengthening of the partnership between the State of Mississippi and Taiwan, the expansion of Taiwan's role on the global stage, a bilateral trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan, Taiwan's meaningful participation in the World Health Assembly, and the establishment of a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan, and to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act and the 38th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the State of Mississippi and Taiwan:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the outstanding friendship and encourage further economic ties between the State of Mississippi and the Republic of China (Taiwan), and extend best wishes for continued success in all of Taiwan's future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Texas, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.