President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and his delegation in Taipei on Friday, calling for stronger Taiwan–U.S. cooperation in biotechnology, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence. 

Lai thanked Stein for visiting Taiwan in his first year as governor, and noted it was the first visit to Taiwan by a North Carolina governor in 25 years. He underscored how the state’s strong research and industrial sectors align closely with Taiwan’s strengths in technology and manufacturing.

Lai said, “I believe that as long as Taiwan and North Carolina join forces and deepen cooperation in areas such as biotechnology, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence, we will certainly make significant contributions to Taiwan-U.S. economic exchanges and to the well-being of humanity.”

Stein said Taiwan and North Carolina have highly complementary economies, with several Taiwanese companies already operating in North Carolina, and more planning to invest. The governor emphasized that the state’s greatest asset is its talent, explaining that universities and community colleges train professionals in key industries, including IT, semiconductors, AI, aerospace, and automotive manufacturing.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) also met with Stein’s delegation on Friday. In a social media post, Lin said the two sides are well-positioned to collaborate through events such as the U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, underscoring the commitment of the like-minded partners to continue expanding trade and investment ties. He noted that North Carolina opened a representative office in Taipei in 2023, and described it as a vital partner linking Taiwan to U.S. innovation and markets.

Lin said both share a focus on personnel development and AI, expressing confidence that deeper cooperation will help connect capital, technology, and talent.