Kamerlid: <naam kamerlid>

Den Haag, 07-10-2013 t.b.v. de nationale feestdag van Taiwan Spreektekst
Nederland - Taiwan
Your excellencies, Ambassadors and representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all I would like to thank mr Lee for the honour to address a short speech on the occasion of the hundred and second anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China. A specific characteristic of Chinese civilization is, that is seems as if there was no beginning. In the story of the first and legendary Yellow emperor, China seemed already to exist. The creation myth is a story of restoration rather than creation. Interestingly, there are similarities here with the relationship between Taiwan and the Netherlands. Our relation started in the 17th century, but we always felt a cognation as if we were always related. This might be explained by the fact that both our countries are small and populous, that we both are sea-going nations with an open and outward looking view on the world. As you said so well: mr Lee, Although our countries are thousands of miles apart and differ in terms of geography, history and culture, we do share the same values and principles as freedom and democracy. Democracy ladies and gentlemen is not to be equal, but democracy is about the equal right to be different. The great history of the Netherlands in the 17th century was the result of our curiosity and the freedom we gave to people to really be unequal. The Netherlands then, indulged itself by modern conflicting thoughts and modern techniques. We discussed different opinions and our curiosity pushed our ships well over the unknown horizon. Both literally, and figuratively. We then practiced what Einstein later described as: an evening at which all present are in complete agreement, is a lost evening. One should always be wary of his own opinions. Australian comedian Tim Minchin encourages everyone to take their opinions out of the front porch and give them a good bashing with the cricket bat. It is this insight on the relativity of truth that our countries still share. It is what feeds our curiosity. It results in free trade for goods, services and thoughts. People as well as countries should discuss and continuously falsify their opinions. It is the inspiration to creativity and it helps to understand the relativity of being. Taiwan’s recent start of the negotiations with the WTO on the Trade in Services Agreement is a good example. My party supports these negotiations. We believe in free trade. Countries should trade in their mutual benefit. Iomparative advantage refers to the ability of a country to produce a particular good or service at a loweandover another. Even if one country is more efficient in the production of all goods than another country, both will still gain by trading with each other, as long as they have different relative efficiencies. Trade boundaries frustrate free trade and therefore are a break to development. Trade boundaries sometimes might feel sympathetic for infant industries, but in the end they will cost welfare to all countries involved. The Netherlands is the largest investor in Taiwan, as your country is an important stepping stone into the fast growing Asian markets. Similarly, the Netherlands is a Taiwanese steppingstone into Europe. Free trade with other countries is therefore in mutual benefit of Taiwan as well as in the benefit of the Netherlands. My party also welcomes the invitation to Taiwan to attend the 38th Assembly of international Civil Aviation Organization as a guest of President of the ICAO council. We believe that it might help to promote the security of international aviation and assist the ICAO in achieving its goal of creating a Seamless Asian Sky. The Taiwanese ambitions to become a member of different international organizations are well understood. We believe that as an open economy with great ambitions, one should be full member of the international community. My party can be seen as a friend in these ambitions, although we know that it will take time to fulfill it all. It is best expressed in the Confucian wisdom: if you want to go fast, take little steps. One of the values we share is that being an open economy and fostering the right to be different adds both tangible and intangible value. The knowledge of the relativity of things is the starting point creativity, prosperity and development. But, what is relativity, one might ask? If you spend two hours together with a beautiful girl, they may feel like a minute. If you sit but two minutes listening to a boring speech, this feels like two hours. That's relativity. Mr Lee, My two hours are well over. I really want to thank you very much for the opportunity to underline our good relations. And may you all enjoy good fortune and good health. Thank you so much.

Source: http://reneleegte.vvd.nl/-docs-/52334/download.pdf