[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4903-S4904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              WELCOMING PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN TO COLORADO

  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, today I wish to welcome President Tsai 
Ing-wen of Taiwan to my home State of Colorado.
  On Friday, July 19, President Tsai will land in Denver as she 
transits through the United States on to her way home from official 
visits with diplomatic allies in the Western Hemisphere.
  President Tsai will be the first sitting Taiwan head of state to 
visit the beautiful State of Colorado. It will indeed be a historic 
occasion.
  This visit to Colorado will highlight the special relationship that 
our State shares with Taiwan. Colorado exports $222.7 million in goods 
to Taiwan, making it the 10th largest export market for the Centennial 
State, the sixth largest in Asia. It is estimated that over 2,400 jobs 
in Colorado support the export of services to Taiwan.
  Our relationship extends well beyond trade ties. Denver recently 
became the new home for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in 
2015. Colorado Springs and Kaohsiung City have been sister cities since 
1983.
  The shared values of freedom, democracy, and prosperity provide for 
the strong basis of the longstanding friendship between our two 
nations. Taiwan is a shining example to its neighbors. In 2019, Taiwan 
was ranked the second freest country in Asia by Freedom House. It was 
also ranked the 10th freest economy in the world by the Heritage 
Foundation.
  The strength and vitality of Taiwan's democratic and economic system 
has made it a beacon of democracy in the Indo-Pacific and throughout 
the world. The relationship between our two countries is critical for 
the United States, as we continue to advance the goal of a free and 
open Indo-Pacific and to promote our shared values in that region.
  This is why, during my time in the Senate, I have championed the ties 
between the United States and Taiwan. On December 31, 2018, President 
Trump signed into law the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, which 
declares that it is the ``policy of the United States to support the 
close economic, political, and security relationship between Taiwan and 
the United States'' and requires regular U.S. arms sales and endorses 
high-level reciprocal visits between our nations.
  President Tsai has graciously welcomed me to Taiwan on four 
occasions, including a memorable visit several

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months ago, when she graciously took me on a tour of Taipei's iconic 
Dadaocheng neighborhood. It is now my pleasure to return the favor this 
weekend when she visits my home State.
  Welcome, President Tsa, to the Centennial State, and may we continue 
to strengthen the bonds of friendship between our nations and our 
peoples.

                          ____________________