TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) hoped for deeper economic and trade cooperation with the UK during a meeting with a delegation of British Conservative Party lawmakers, led by Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade Andrew Griffith.

Han said on Wednesday the UK is Taiwan’s third-largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade close to US$8 billion (NT$2.43 trillion), CNA reported. He was confident that economic and trade ties between Taiwan and the UK would expand substantially.

Han hoped the delegation would gain a good impression of the country and discover the warmth of Taiwanese. 

Griffith said relations between Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and the UK Parliament are strong. There is a shared consensus amongst parliamentarians on strengthening bilateral parliamentary ties with Taiwan, he said.

The secretary said the UK is committed to developing free trade, supporting a rules-based international order, and defending democratic values under threat. Therefore, parliamentary exchanges are of critical importance, he said.

The delegation is in Taiwan until Oct. 3.