A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Concerning endorsement of Taiwan's participation as observer in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the 28th anniversary of sister state relations with the Province of Taiwan in the Republic of China (Taiwan).

    WHEREAS, civil aviation plays a pivotal role in promoting cultural exchange, business, trade, and tourism; and

    WHEREAS, to develop international civil aviation in a safe and orderly manner is the supreme cause of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); and

    WHEREAS, Taiwan posted brilliant GDP growth of 10.88 percent for 2010, the 16^th largest merchandise exporter in 2010 and a key air transport hub linking Northeast and Southeast Asia; and

    WHEREAS, over 174,000 international flights travel to and from Taiwan, with foreign passengers making around 3.8 million trips to the island every year, and over 35 million passengers, including 25.39 million passengers on international flights, arrived and departed

from Taiwan's airports in 2008; and

    WHEREAS, without Taiwan's participation, international flight plans, regulations, and procedures that the ICAO formulates will be incomplete and unsafe; and

    WHEREAS, on December 7, 1984, the State of South Dakota and the Taiwan Province of the Republic of China (Taiwan) jointly established the sister state relationship to promote international understanding and goodwill and to strengthen a greater friendship between the residents of South Dakota and Taiwan; and

    WHEREAS, over the past 28 years, the bonds of the true friendship and steadfast trade partnership between South Dakota and Taiwan have strengthened, resulting in a better economic, social, and cultural exchange between the two; and

    WHEREAS, every other year, Taiwan has sent an agricultural trade goodwill mission to South Dakota to demonstrate Taiwan's continuing goodwill and willingness to purchase South Dakota agricultural products and the South Dakota agricultural industry has benefitted greatly over the past two decades from the sale of beef, wheat, and corn to Taiwan; and

    WHEREAS, the commercial interaction between the State of South Dakota and Taiwan has grown substantially with each passing year, resulting in increased economic growth for both Taiwan and South Dakota. In 2009, South Dakota exported goods to Taiwan were valued at 4.9 million dollars:

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Eighty-seventh Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the 2012 Legislative Session endorses Taiwan's participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization as observer; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the United States Secretary of State, the United States Secretary of Transportation, and to each member of

the South Dakota congressional delegation, and to Director General Jack J.C. Yang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City.