Taiwan officially opened a new representative office in Milan, Italy on Monday. The Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the new office will be responsible for business, tourism, and emergency relief services for expatriates in eight regions in northern Italy.
Italian Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio who visited Taiwan in June, and Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs Committee Vice President Paolo Formentini were present at the opening reception, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The director of the Milan office will be Lin Tsan-nan (林讚南), the former deputy representative in Italy. The new office will coordinate closely with the existing representative office in Rome to enhance cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and Italy.
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) expressed in a pre-recorded video at the opening that Taiwan-Italy relations have grown rapidly in recent years, and the two sides have close exchanges in trade, science and technology, culture, and academics. The ministry says the opening of the Milan office will help strengthen the relationship and promote increased economic and trade cooperation.