Front row from left, Rep. Joy Garratt, Deputy Director David Chen, Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero and Rep. Debra Sariñana. Back row from left, Sen. Linda Lopez, Sen. Bill Tallman, Officer Jack Jheng, Secretary Alicia J. Keyes, Sen. Harold Pope, Rep. Christine Trujillo, Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego, Commissioner Charlene Pyskoty and Commissioner Walt Benson. Courtesy photo
From left, Rep. Roybal Caballero, Secretary debra Garcia y Griego, Secretary Alicia J Keyes, Mayor Tim Keller, Deputy Director David Chen and Officer Jack Jheng. Courtesy/NMDP
STATE news:
ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexican government and business leaders met Tuesday with Deputy Director David Chen and Officer Jack Jheng of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles (TECO-LA) at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque to talk about trade, economic and cultural relations.
Among the priorities discussed were forming a Taiwan Friendship Caucus in the New Mexico state Legislature, developing Albuquerque’s “sister city” relationship with Hualien and the possibility of establishing new sister city relationships between Albuquerque and cities in Taiwan, and strengthening mutually beneficial trade and cultural ties between New Mexico and Taiwan.
“It was an honor to host Deputy Director Chen here in Albuquerque,” said Rep. Patricia Roybal-Caballero (D-Albuquerque), who hosted the event. “Ever since visiting Taiwan as part of a legislative trade delegation in 2019, I have been excited about the potential to develop this relationship further in order to strengthen both of our economies and share our rich cultures with one another.”
Other State Representatives in attendance at the event were Christine Trujillo (Albuquerque D), Joy Garratt (Albuquerque D), and Debra Sariñana (Albuquerque D), as well as State Senators Bill Tallman (Albuquerque D), Linda Lopez ( D-Albuquerque), and Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque).
New Mexico Economic Development Department Secretary Alicia J. Keyes, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego, Mayor Tim Keller, Bernalillo County Commissioners Charlene Pyskoty and Walt Benson, and representatives from the New Mexico Trade Alliance, Bernalillo County Economic Development Division , Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance, Global Ties ABQ and the Rio Grande Community Development Corporation also attended the event.
“Taiwan is a major trade partner of the United States, so by building a deeper trade partnership together, we have a significant opportunity to strengthen New Mexico’s economy,” Secretary Keyes said. “Continuing to grow New Mexico’s economy through our global relationships is a key priority for Governor Lujan Grisham.”
“Through our sister city, Hualien, and work between our governments and businesses, Albuquerque and New Mexico’s partnership with Taiwan has great potential for growth,” Mayor Keller said. “We’re building momentum in our economy, and this is exactly the right time to explore ways to strengthen these economic and cultural ties.”
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