Assembly Resolution No. 439
BY: M. of A. Kim
MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
May 22, 2019, as Taiwan Heritage Day in the State of
New York
WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share
common ideals and a clear vision for the 21st Century, where freedom and
democracy are the foundation for peace, prosperity, and progress; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Congress passed the landmark Taiwan Relations Act
(TRA) in 1979 to sustain a close bilateral relationship and to advance
mutual security and commercial interests between the U.S. and Taiwan,
and on its 40th Anniversary, the TRA along with the Six Assurances have
served as cornerstones of U.S.-Taiwan relations and helped to preserve
peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait; and
WHEREAS, The United States and Taiwan share a long-term and close
economic relationship, including $76 billion in bilateral trade in 2018,
making Taiwan the 11th largest trading partner of the United States; and
Taiwan has expressed its wish to sign a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA)
with the United States; and
WHEREAS, The United States has assisted Taiwan in participating in
the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO), and the International Criminal Police Organization
(INTERPOL), and will continue supporting Taiwan's meaningful
participation in these and other organizations; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York exported $778 million worth of
products to Taiwan in 2018, making Taiwan the 19th largest foreign
market for the State of New York; and the bilateral trade and investment
have created about 10,000 jobs in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Many of the United States' top 500 companies headquartered
in New York have invested in Taiwan, while more than 300 Taiwanese
companies have invested in the State of New York, contributing to
mutually beneficial relationship for decades; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan has signed mutual driver's license recognition pacts
with 31 U.S. states since 2013, and more than 15,000 Taiwanese and
American citizens have taken advantage of the above-mentioned pacts, and
were Taiwan and New York State to enter into a driver's license
reciprocity agreement with each other, this would help increase the
mobility of international students, businessmen, and academics from both
sides; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York is home to a thriving overseas ethnic
Chinese communities that support the Republic of China (Taiwan),
including the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), the
Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of New York, Inc., the Chinese Chamber of
Commerce of New York, Inc., Buddha's Light International Association in
New York, the Taiwan Center (Senior Center), and the Taiwanese American
Association of New York, that devote themselves to the harmony and
development of the community of the State of New York; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 22, 2019, as Taiwan
Heritage Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; Tsai, Ing-wen, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan);
and Lily Hsu, Ambassador of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
New York.