A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Celebrating the sister-state relationship with Taiwan.

WHEREAS, South Dakota and Taiwan, which share the values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights, have been in a sister-state relationship since 1984; and

WHEREAS, South Dakota and Taiwan have enjoyed a mutually beneficial bilateral trade relationship, in which Taiwan is a major trade partner of South Dakota, and continued growth in that relationship is anticipated; and

WHEREAS, in June of 2024, Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden led a trade delegation of state officials and industry leaders to Taiwan, to explore trade opportunities in high-tech industries; and

WHEREAS, on June 28, 2024, South Dakota State University and National Chung Hsing University signed an academic cooperation agreement to expand academic collaboration and bilateral exchanges in the agricultural sector; and

WHEREAS, the Republic of China, which is also known as Taiwan, has been a sovereign state for over one hundred years, and the People's Republic of China's so-called “One China Principle," is baseless; and

WHEREAS, the negotiation of a fair and reciprocal bilateral trade agreement between Taiwan and the United States is an important step toward strengthening mutual investment between South Dakota and Taiwan;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the One Hundredth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that South Dakota celebrates the 41st anniversary of its sister-state relationship with Taiwan; supports the further strengthening of trade relations and academic exchanges between South Dakota and Taiwan; supports the signing of the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation between the United States and Taiwan; supports Taiwan’s inclusion in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity and other international organizations which are significant to the health, safety, and well-being of all people; and commends Taiwan's vibrant democracy.