Taiwan seeks Turkey’s support in global stage

By Havva Kara Aydin

ANKARA (AA) - The chief of the Taiwanese mission in Turkey echoed on Thursday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks that "the world is bigger than five".

"Taiwan is a small country and we hope Turkey can support Taiwan in the international society, in the international organizations," Yaser Tai-Hsiang Cheng, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission in Turkey, said.

"As Dear President Erdogan said ‘The World is bigger than five' and there are 23 million people in Taiwan who have fundamental human rights.

"We want to represent them in the international platforms, such as the UN’s Climate Change Summit or International Civil Aviation Organization,” said Tai-Hsiang Cheng, underlining Taiwan's aim for friendly relations with all countries.

Tai-Hsiang spoke at a meeting which was organized by the Student Support Council of Ankara University in the country's capital to raise funds for international scholars.

The council not only aims to support students but also works to raise awareness, said university president Erkan Ibis.

The council supports around 100 students who came to Turkey for educational purposes from different countries, including Romania, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Japan, Lithuania.

"With the earnings from these events we also provide bases for cultural exchange between the societies," said Asuman Sunguroglu, head of the body.

Taiwan's representative office in Ankara was opened in 1989 and the office was transformed into a “mission” in 1993.

At the end of the same year, Turkey established a trade office in Taiwan, and the two countries continue to improve the relations in the fields of economy, culture, tourism, and education.