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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has established
3 sister-state relations with Taiwan, an agreement signed by
4 Governor Jim Edgar and Governor Dr. Lien Chan in 1992; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The Republic of China (Taiwan) and the State of
6 Illinois enjoy a deep and longstanding partnership built on a
7 shared dedication to freedom, democracy, and the market
8 economy; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The quality of Illinois agricultural products has
10 always been appreciated by Republic of China (Taiwan) importers
11 and consumers; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Taiwan sent 24 procurement missions to the United
13 States between 1978 and 2007, which have enhanced the mutually
14 beneficial trade relations and permanent friendship between
15 the two countries and has most recently resulted in the
16 purchase of U.S. agricultural products worth U.S. $3.9 billion
17 following the 2007 Taiwan Agricultural Mission; and
 
18     WHEREAS, In 2007, Taiwan ranked as the seventh-largest
19 export market in the world for U.S. agricultural products and
20 the fourth-largest market for U.S.-grown corn; in addition,
21 Illinois' overall exports to Taiwan are steadily increasing,

 

 

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1 with Taiwan ranked as the world's eleventh-largest market for
2 Illinois' products in 2008, with exports to Taiwan valued at
3 U.S. $1.385 billion, an increase of 8.8 percent from Illinois'
4 2007 exports to Taiwan (worth U.S. $1.274 billion); and
 
5     WHEREAS, The Taiwan government has invited delegations of
6 leaders from the Midwestern state legislatures, including the
7 State of Illinois, to visit Taiwan; through the efforts of the
8 Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, the exchanges
9 of qualified teachers of English and Chinese languages in each
10 other's schools have been enhanced and the cultural
11 performances, educational programs, and exhibits during
12 Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month and Taiwanese-American
13 Heritage Week have increased as well; and
 
14     WHEREAS, The Taiwanese community has been an important
15 contributor to the State's economy as well as business and
16 civic activities and are strong supporters of the relations
17 between Taiwan and the State of Illinois; and
 
18     WHEREAS, The government of Illinois, including the
19 Illinois General Assembly, has been a cordial supporter of
20 Taiwan's appeal to participate in the activities of the United
21 Nations, Taiwan's appeal to be an observer in the World Health
22 Assembly of the World Health Organization, and the signing of a
23 Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Taiwan;

 

 

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1 therefore, be it
 
2     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
3 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we reaffirm the State
4 of Illinois' sister-state relationship with Taiwan and support
5 the exchanges of all kinds that are mutually beneficial to both
6 sides; and be it further
 
7     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
8 presented to Director General Perry Pei-hwang Shen of the
9 Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago; His Excellency
10 Dr. Tsai Hsung Hsiung, Governor of Taiwan Province of the
11 Republic of China (Taiwan); and the Honorable Patrick Quinn,
12 Governor of the State of Illinois.