TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) on Monday thanked a visiting delegation from the US for helping strengthen ties between Taiwan and the US.

Meeting members of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England, Hsiao praised the group for preserving Chinese American culture and connecting communities across the Pacific.

Hsiao said Taiwan and the US share values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. She highlighted Taiwan’s democratic progress, economic growth, and advances in high-tech industries.

Taiwan’s economy is expected to grow 11% this year, Hsiao said. She credited close Taiwan-US cooperation in research, innovation, and talent development, along with the manufacturing sector, for helping Taiwan become a key player in global technology supply chains.

Hsiao also highlighted Taiwan’s cultural diversity, shaped by generations of migration and its Indigenous and Hakka communities. More recent immigrants have further enriched society and helped attract international talent, she said.

President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) “Balanced Taiwan” policy aims to spread economic benefits beyond major corporations, Hsiao said. The government also seeks to support small businesses, traditional industries, and service providers across the country.

Founded in 1923 and based in Boston, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England represents 33 Chinese American community and family organizations. It works to preserve Chinese culture, protect community interests, and provide social services, including affordable housing.