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SR0179 |
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LRB096 12192 GRL 24690 r |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has established |
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| sister-state relations with Taiwan, an agreement signed by |
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| Governor Jim Edgar and Governor Dr. Lien Chan in 1992; and
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| WHEREAS, The Republic of China (Taiwan) and the State of |
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| Illinois enjoy a deep and longstanding partnership built on a |
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| shared dedication to freedom, democracy, and the market |
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| economy; and
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| WHEREAS, The quality of Illinois agricultural products has |
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| always been appreciated by Republic of China (Taiwan) importers |
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| and consumers; and
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| WHEREAS, Taiwan sent 24 procurement missions to the United |
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| States between 1978 and 2007, which have enhanced the mutually |
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| beneficial trade relations and permanent friendship between |
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| the two countries and has most recently resulted in the |
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| purchase of U.S. agricultural products worth U.S. $3.9 billion |
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| following the 2007 Taiwan Agricultural Mission; and
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| WHEREAS, In 2007, Taiwan ranked as the seventh-largest |
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| export market in the world for U.S. agricultural products and |
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| the fourth-largest market for U.S.-grown corn; in addition, |
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| Illinois' overall exports to Taiwan are steadily increasing, |
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SR0179 |
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LRB096 12192 GRL 24690 r |
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| with Taiwan ranked as the world's eleventh-largest market for |
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| Illinois' products in 2008, with exports to Taiwan valued at |
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| U.S. $1.385 billion, an increase of 8.8 percent from Illinois' |
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| 2007 exports to Taiwan (worth U.S. $1.274 billion); and
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| WHEREAS, The Taiwan government has invited delegations of |
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| leaders from the Midwestern state legislatures, including the |
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| State of Illinois, to visit Taiwan; through the efforts of the |
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| Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, the exchanges |
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| of qualified teachers of English and Chinese languages in each |
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| other's schools have been enhanced and the cultural |
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| performances, educational programs, and exhibits during |
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| Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month and Taiwanese-American |
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| Heritage Week have increased as well; and
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| WHEREAS, The Taiwanese community has been an important |
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| contributor to the State's economy as well as business and |
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| civic activities and are strong supporters of the relations |
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| between Taiwan and the State of Illinois; and
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| WHEREAS, The government of Illinois, including the |
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| Illinois General Assembly, has been a cordial supporter of |
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| Taiwan's appeal to participate in the activities of the United |
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| Nations, Taiwan's appeal to be an observer in the World Health |
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| Assembly of the World Health Organization, and the signing of a |
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| Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Taiwan; |
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SR0179 |
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LRB096 12192 GRL 24690 r |
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| therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL |
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| ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we reaffirm the State |
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| of Illinois' sister-state relationship with Taiwan and support |
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| the exchanges of all kinds that are mutually beneficial to both |
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| sides; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be |
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| presented to Director General Perry Pei-hwang Shen of the |
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| Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago; His Excellency |
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| Dr. Tsai Hsung Hsiung, Governor of Taiwan Province of the |
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| Republic of China (Taiwan); and the Honorable Patrick Quinn, |
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| Governor of the State of Illinois.
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