WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States are long-standing friends and allies, and both cherish dearly the commonly shared values of freedom, democracy, and human rights; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has once again demonstrated the strength of their robust and mature democratic system through the smooth implementation of their elections on January 16, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan is the world's 18th largest economy and the 10th largest trading partner—in the top four in Asia—of the United States, with the two-way trade volume between the two reaching 67 billion United States dollars in 2014; and

WHEREAS, The state of Washington and Taiwan have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of further growth—Taiwan was Washington's 8th largest export market in 2014, with 2.475 billion dollars' worth of Washington goods shipped to Taiwan, including electric machinery, aircrafts, cereals, iron and steel, inorganic chemicals, apples, cherries, sweet onions, and bulk wheat;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate reaffirm its commitment to the strong and deepening relationship between the state of Washington and Taiwan, and support Taiwan's democracy and participation in organizations that improve trade, health, and public safety; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Director General Andy Chin of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle.

I, Hunter G. Goodman, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8731,

adopted by the Senate

March 3, 2016

HUNTER G. GOODMAN

Secretary of the Senate