INTERNATIONAL: Taiwan hopes for progress on trade talks with the European Union next year when France takes over the bloc's presidency, and democracies must work together in the face of authoritarianism, President Tsai Ing-wen told a group of French lawmakers on Thursday.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen says that in the first half of next year, France will hold the presidency of the EU council. Taiwan hopes the EU, under the leadership of France, can continue to promote Taiwan and the EU's negotiation of a bilateral investment agreement, or BIA, to open a new cooperative relationship between Taiwan and the EU.

Taiwan leader adds, in the face of a rapidly changing international situation and the continued spread of authoritarianism, democratic partners should further more join hands in cooperation. Taiwan will fulfil its international responsibilities and look forward to working with France and EU partners with similar ideals to make more contributions to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, and of the world.

Taiwan has been keen to boost its ties with other Western democracies as it faces rising military and diplomatic pressure from China to accept Chinese sovereignty claims over the island.

Tsai, meeting the group led by France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group head Francois de Rugy, did not directly mention China, but has called on democracies to stick together. Francois de Rugby has quoted saying; "Through the free and transparent election, independent and free press, freedom of speech, and ability to show political variety, these are our shared values."

The French trip comes as China is involved in an increasingly ugly spat with EU member state Lithuania about the Baltic state's decision to allow Taiwan to open a de facto embassy there. Lithuania's diplomatic delegation to China left the country on Wednesday in a hastily arranged exit in a further souring of relations.