H.R. No. 700
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Consul General Joseph Chen's visit to the State
Capitol provides a welcome opportunity to recognize his outstanding
service as director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
Houston; and
WHEREAS, Since assuming his present post in March 2008, Mr.
Chen has played a vital role in strengthening ties between Texas and
Taiwan, as well as relations between Taiwan and a number of other
states in the South, Southwest, and Midwest; and
WHEREAS, He oversees an office that carries out a number of
different missions in addition to consular services; under Mr.
Chen's guidance, TECO-Houston provides the public with a wide array
of information about Taiwan, including critical information
related to trade and investment opportunities; the office also
promotes scientific and technological cooperation, provides
services to science and technology institutes and to scientists and
scholars, arranges cultural and education exchanges, and hosts and
organizes seminars, exhibits, speeches, and other events, along
with providing educational and cultural services to the Chinese and
Taiwanese communities; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chen brings broad international experience to
his present duties; he previously served as a desk officer in the
Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs; as secretary of the embassy of the Republic of China in
Panama; as secretary of the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office (TECRO) in New Zealand; as deputy director of
the Administrative Division, TECRO-Washington, D.C.; as deputy
representative of TECRO-India; and as deputy director general of
the Department of General Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and
WHEREAS, The relationship that Texas enjoys with Taiwan is an
especially important one; in 2005, Texas shipped more than $3.4
billion in exports to Taiwan, which ranked that year as the state's
fifth largest overseas market; moreover, Taiwanese firms have
invested billions of U.S. dollars in Texas businesses; and
WHEREAS, Another reflection of the ties binding the two lands
are the many sisterhood relations that have been established; the
State of Texas became a sister state of Taiwan Province in 1988, and
10 Texas cities and counties currently have sister relationships
with cities in Taiwan; and
WHEREAS, Texas is indeed fortunate to have an official of Mr.
Chen's dedication and expertise at the head of TECO-Houston, and it
is hoped that the links between this state and Taiwan will continue
to multiply and flourish in the years ahead; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Consul General Joseph Chen for his
immeasurable contributions to the deepening of bonds between Texas
and Taiwan and extend to him sincere best wishes for his tenure with
the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Chen as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Vo
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______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 700 was adopted by the House on March
4, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House