Below is an article published by The Parliament.com:

A cross-party group of MEPs have reiterated their support for Taiwan to be allowed to join international organisations such as the UN.

The members were speaking at a special event in parliament to mark the arrival of David Lin, Taiwan's new ambassador to the EU and Belgium.

UK Tory MEP Charles Tannock, chairman of the Taiwan friendship group in parliament, also expressed support for the signing of a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and China.

Tannock said his group supported any initiative to improve the cross-Taiwan strait relationship, including the talks between Taiwan and China on the trade pact.

Tannock said the group also commended the two sides for expanding their mutual economic and trade exchanges to boost interactions between the peoples of the two sides.

He also reiterated parliament's support for Taiwan's bid to participate in international organisations, such as the United Nations framework convention on climate change, and he urged the EU to offer similar support.

As for Taiwan's bid to get visa exemption from the EU, Tannock said he believes the European commission will deliver a proposal on the issue to parliament within the next few weeks.

Lin thanked his host for the friendship group's support and stressed that links between the EU and Taiwan are "close and important."

He pointed out that Taiwan is the EU's fourth largest trade partner in Asia and that the EU has invested €22bn in Taiwan.

Lin, the country's top diplomat in the EU, also expressed hope that Taiwanese citizens will be able to travel to EU countries without the need for a visa before the end of the year.

"I dearly hope the EU will waive its visa restrictions for our citizens," said Lin, who was previously deputy foreign affairs minister in Taiwan.

Other MEPs present at the event included Italian deputy Gabriele Albertini, chairman of parliament's committee on foreign affairs, Wolfgang Kreissl-Doerfler and Laima Liucija Andrikiene.