Premier Mao Chi-kuo stated today that he expects the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and other ministries to continue their efforts to sign agreements or accords on all fronts with countries friendly to the ROC, strive for opportunities to participate in international events, and raise Taiwan's international status.
It has always been the government's objective to strive for greater international maneuvering room and to strengthen the nation's various collaborative relationships with its allies as well as countries with no diplomatic relations with the ROC, the premier affirmed.
The premier made these remarks at today's Cabinet meeting after he was briefed by the MOFA on its accomplishments in promoting the signing of agreements or accords for bilateral or multilateral international cooperation. The MOFA and other ministries have been working hard in this direction based on President Ma Ying-jeou's policy of viable diplomacy, Mao said.
Particularly noteworthy were the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC), the Agreement between Singapore and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu on Economic Partnership (ASTEP) and the Taipei-Tokyo fisheries agreement. In addition, the MOFA has gained ROC citizens visa-free or landing visa privileges in 148 countries and territories. These are very fruitful accomplishments worthy of commendation, the premier said.
The ROC has forged major bilateral or multilateral agreements or accords in numerous areas such as economic and trade, mutual judicial assistance, avoidance of double taxation, special immunity, working holiday programs, money laundering, immigration, customs cooperation, education and culture, intellectual property, and medical, pharmaceutical and health care as well as scientific and technological collaboration, the MOFA stated.
In addition to the ANZTEC, ASTEP and Taipei-Tokyo fisheries agreement, the agreements include the Agreement on Privileges, Exemptions and Immunities between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and the American Institute in Taiwan as well as the Arrangement between the Taipei Representative Office in the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Institute in Taipei on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Cooperation in the Enforcement of Penal Sentences.
Moreover, the ROC has joined the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Act, the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, and regional fisheries management organizations. The nation has also legalized domestically the two United Nations human rights covenants: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The MOFA pointed out that in order to demonstrate the nation's determination to participate in the international community and to help all ministries and agencies under the Executive Yuan to have a yardstick for legalizing domestically multilateral agreements, the Executive Yuan on August 5, 2014, formulated operating guidelines for ministries and agencies under the Executive Yuan on legalizing multilateral international agreements or accords domestically.
Furthermore, after years of efforts, the law on the conclusion of treaties or accords was ratified by the ROC Legislature on June 12, 2015, and promulgated by the President and became effective the following July 1, instituting a clear legal basis for concluding such a pact.