S-0515.2  _______________________________________________

                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8402

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Wojahn, Sellar, Snyder, Newhouse, Gaspard, Fairley, Swecker, Deccio, Palmer, Drew, McDonald, Oke, Sutherland, Winsley and Rasmussen

Read first time 01/19/95.  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade.

Entering Washington state into a sister state relationship with Taiwan.

    WHEREAS, The State of Washington in the United States of America and Taiwan, Republic of China, have an extensive cultural, economic, and political relationship; and

    WHEREAS, The manifestation of these relationships can be found in the fact that more than seven and one-half billion dollars in trade was done between the State of Washington and Taiwan in 1993, and Taiwan is the fourth most important source of foreign tourists to Washington; and

    WHEREAS, The State of Washington has chosen to recognize the special nature of the relationship of the partners by the establishment of a Trade Office in Taipei; and

    WHEREAS, The benefits of a continued expansion of trade between the State of Washington and Taiwan include increases in trade-related employment and greater markets for the products of both states; and

    WHEREAS, The State of Washington and Taiwan have worked together to have officially sponsored exchanges in the fine arts, recreation, and political fields; and

    WHEREAS, Such exchanges provide opportunities for the people of the State of Washington and the people of Taiwan to benefit by gaining a greater appreciation for the history, fine arts, political institutions, and culture of each other;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the State of Washington declares that it agrees to enter into a sister state relationship with Taiwan; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Governor of the State of Washington is encouraged to continue to use the influence of the Office of Governor to promote increased trade, cultural exchanges, and tourism between the two sister states.

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