Thirty Years ofandCooperation, Counting
Speech delivered via video at the Opening Session of the CALD 30th Anniversary Public Conference on 9 September in Taipei, Taiwan
I want to wish you many happy returns and congratulations on marking your 30th anniversary. Many things have changed in the last 30 years; the world has become an entirely different place. The ‘90s were a decade of optimism around the world, a decade where many thought history was over. In fact, it is that optimism that led us to begin the century. We found ourselves making a fateful decision—the decision to admit China into the World Trade Organization.
Twenty-three years later, we fnd ourselves dealing with an authoritarian nation that is now also wealthy, trying to export its authoritarian model as an alternative to liberal democracy. Ofcials from Beijing go around the world telling countries that democracy cannot solve problems. They tell them their system is so much better. We liberals know that they are wrong and it’s up to us to show people worldwide that democracy is the only way people can truly thrive. I don’t say all of this because
I am personally sanctioned by Beiing, but because I truly believe that the Chinese Communist Party poses the biggest geopolitical threat to liberal democracy worldwide.
the ALDE party is launching this year a scholarship on EU-Taiwan relations in his name. He always said liberals must unite, and that together we can learn from our individual experiences and work to get more liberals into elected ofce where we can make the difference.
“We value the benefits that regional cooperation can bring… these will become even more as we tackle the biggest challenges together…”
Dear liberal friends, this is why it is most fitting that you organize your congress in Taiwan, a vibrant democracy in Asia and where we will have an important election shortly. And we wish our partners, the DPP, a lot of success. They must succeed. The ALDE Party and its members have been vocal and constant supporters of Taiwan from Day One.
My predecessor, former ALDE President Hans van Baalen, who sadly passed away a few years ago, was the embodiment of this support. He cared passionately for liberalism around the world, and he understood the importance of getting together and learning from each other. He would have dearly loved to have been with you in Taipei again today. It is his legacy that
This is why the ALDE Party is a great supporter of, and engages happily with, CALD. We value the benefits that regional cooperation can bring and that these will become even more as we tackle the biggest challenges together from COVID to climate change to migration, to China—you name it. So on this 30-year anniversary, please allow me to congratulate you and wish you the very best for the next 30 years. You will no doubt face additional challenges along the way, but you can count on our continued engagement, your European allies.
ILHAN KHUCKYUK mem er of european parliament o-president, allian e of li erals & demo rats for europe party