Taipei, July 20 (CNA) Taiwan's Legislative Yuan formally launched a USA Caucus on Monday to promote friendship and exchanges between Taiwanese legislators and their counterparts in the United States.

Seventy-one legislators from different political parties in Taiwan joined the Legislative Yuan USA Caucus, with Lo Chih-cheng of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chosen as its chairman.

The large number of members in the caucus, likely the most of any legislative friendship group, indicates the importance of Taiwan-U.S. relations to Taiwan's legislators, he said.

Lo said he hoped to form a delegation to visit the U.S. early next year after the U.S. presidential election concludes and the COVID-19 outbreak eases to attend the presidential inauguration in the U.S. and interact with newly elected members of the U.S. Congress.

Legislators Liu Shyh-fang of the DPP, Chen I-hsin of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Andy Chiu of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) will serve as the caucus's vice chairs.

The friendship group is aimed at facilitating the visits of U.S. legislators to Taiwan, bridging civil, business and academic groups between the two countries, and holding events to advance Taiwan-U.S. relations.

At the ceremony Monday, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Brent Christensen stressed the "powerful support" enjoyed by Taiwan in the U.S. Congress, citing the passage of the Taiwan Travel Act and the TAIPEI Act in the last two years.

He said he was confident the caucus could find new and creative ways "to bring our relationship to new heights."

Also there was Taiwan's newly sworn in representative to the U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim, who said she hoped the caucus could help her promote Taiwan-U.S. relations through creative means, such as videoconferencing with their counterparts in the U.S.