Premier Jiang Yi-huah today directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to follow the latest developments on mainland China's proposal of the Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), while expediting Taiwan's trade facilitation and its transformation to a free economic system as well as strengthening ties with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members, in order to expand opportunities for the nation's economic development.
The premier made the remark after the MOEA reported on Taiwan's participation in the 2014 Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade at a weekly Cabinet meeting. With the rapid integration of Asia-Pacific economies, the FTAAP proposal—a massive free trade agreement to include all of APEC's 21 economies—will greatly help Taiwan take part in regional economic integration, Jiang said.
The Bali package concluded at the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Ninth Ministerial Conference last December has created new momentum for multilateral trade negotiation through the WTO, Jiang pointed out. Economies worldwide are expecting the agreement package to complete the WTO's long-delayed Doha Round negotiations, which were launched in 2001.
The premier directed the ROC's overseas offices to continue tracking the latest developments in their respective countries and informing ministries of them to enable the ministries to draft related strategies. Taiwan should also continue to actively take part in expanded negotiations on the WTO's Information Technology Agreement as well as discussions on services in trade agreements as well as environmental goods initiatives to win the most possible advantages for the country, he advised.
Commenting on sovereignty issues, Jiang said the naming of the Taiwan delegation on cross-strait or international occasions is an important issue for the country. Throughout this year's APEC trade ministerial meeting, for instance, the host mainland China referred to the Taiwan group as Chinese Taipei. Jiang asked ministries to protest and demand correction if the country's delegation is labeled as "Taipei, China" or another naming that undermines Taiwan's sovereignty at ministerial or senior official meetings. There is definitely no more room for compromise than Chinese Taipei, Jiang reiterated.
The 2014 Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade was held in mainland China's Qingdao May 17-18. Its theme was "Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership." Important topics discussed included:
- Supporting multilateral trade and rejecting protectionism
- Advancing regional economic integration
- Promoting innovative development, economic reform and growth
- Strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development
Taiwan has long been supportive of the APEC multilateral trade system, and with all member economies attaching great importance to trade facilitation, it can share related experience to help enhance its interaction with APEC's developing economies, the MOEA indicated.
During discussions on the FTAAP, Taiwan's delegates reiterated that the principles of inclusiveness, transparency and comprehensiveness should be adopted and practical measures and plans should be followed to open regional markets in pursuit of prosperity for the entire Asia-Pacific region, MOEA officials said.
MOEA Minister Chang Chia-juch, who led the Taiwan delegation, also met with ministers or representatives of mainland China, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Vietnam, the United States and Canada to exchange views or have bilateral talks.