Taiwan's legislative speaker Han Kuo-yu met the new head of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, a friendly meeting aimed at boosting trade ties and cultural links with overseas Taiwanese business owners.

• Han met Wen Lan-chu, who just became the group's 33rd president and only its third woman leader.
• They talked about adding direct flights to more places, promoting Taiwanese culture abroad, and how Taiwanese businesses are doing worldwide.
• Han thanked overseas business owners for sending help home fast after disasters like the Hualien landslide lake flooding, the Tainan floods, and the 921 earthquake.
• He pushed for the next generation abroad to keep learning Chinese, especially the traditional characters Taiwan uses, and asked the overseas affairs agency to keep funding classes.
• Lawmakers from all three main parties joined the meeting, a rare show of cross-party agreement.

Outlook: Expect more work on direct flight routes and government-backed language and culture programs for Taiwanese communities abroad.