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JOINT RESOLUTION TO REAFFIRM THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN MAINE AND TAIWAN AND TO COMMEND TAIWAN'S ACHIEVEMENT ON THE ELECTION OF ITS NEW PRESIDENT, TO ENHANCE BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS AND TO SUPPORT TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan, the Republic of China, share a most important relationship supported by our common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law and a free market economy; and
WHEREAS,  Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou has worked tirelessly to uphold democratic principles in his nation, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan's 23,000,000 people, promote Taiwan's international standing and further improve relations between the United States and Taiwan; and
WHEREAS,  in January 2016, the citizens of Taiwan elected Tsai Ing-wen to be the island's next president by a decisive margin, 56% of more than 12,000,000 votes cast, and she will be the first female president of Taiwan when she is inaugurated on May 20, 2016; and
WHEREAS,  the United States, and in particular the State of Maine, and Taiwan share a historically close relationship marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural exchange, scientific and technological interests and tourism; and
WHEREAS,  Taiwan is a member of the United States Visa Waiver Program, reflecting the friendship, trust and cooperation shared between our 2 countries and making travel between Taiwan and the United States for business and tourism more convenient; and
WHEREAS,  the United States ranks as Taiwan's 2nd-largest trading partner and Taiwan ranks as the 10th-largest trading partner of the United States, with approximately $61,500,000,000 from January to November 2015 in goods and services traded between the United States and Taiwan, with New England exporting $1,000,000,000 in goods to Taiwan and Maine exporting $19,000,000 in goods, including paper, fish and other marine products and computer and electronic products; and
WHEREAS,  the Asia-Pacific region is the largest market in the world for American exports and many of Maine's exports go to markets in the Asia-Pacific region, and Taiwan is Maine's 8th-largest export market in Asia as of 2014; and
WHEREAS,  Taiwan is the 19th-largest trading economy in the world and a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which promotes free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region; and
WHEREAS,  the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the world's key instrument to deal with climate change, a concerted global effort to combat the challenges posed by climate change requires that Taiwan also be included in the work of the convention and Taiwan has expressed a keen interest to participate in the global effort to address climate change; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Legislature now assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, reaffirm the friendship between Maine and Taiwan, the Republic of China, and we continue to support efforts to further strengthen Maine-Taiwan trade relations and support Taiwan's participation in international organizations and agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the members of the Maine Congressional Delegation, Governor Paul LePage, President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan and Scott Lai, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.