Premier Lin Chuan met today with Ambassador Matthew J. Matthews, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and concurrently a Senior Official at APEC. In addition to expressing appreciation to his guests for their support and friendly attitude toward Taiwan in the international economic and trade fields, including Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) activities, the premier expressed hope that Taiwan-U.S. economic exchanges and cooperation will become even deeper and more stable after the new U.S. administration takes office.
The premier also said that to help Taiwan's industrial sector leave the old model of competing based on low costs behind, the new administration will help industries to upgrade, and lower investment thresholds through regulatory amendments to attract more foreign investors to establish factories in Taiwan.
He went on to say that Taiwan believes the United States will adhere to its free trade principles in the future, and regardless of whether the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) becomes a reality or not, Taiwan's efforts to gain entry into the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement and the TPP, including market and service industry liberalization, improvements in labor conditions and ending unfair competition will lay the foundation for future bilateral cooperation.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Matthews is a senior diplomat who has been posted to Australia, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong in addition to serving twice at the American Institute in Taiwan's Taipei office. The fact that he has visited Taiwan three times since assuming his present post in June 2015 indicates the importance the U.S. attaches to cooperation with Taiwan on Asian-Pacific economic issues as well as a firm and friendly Taiwan-U.S. relationship, and his current visit will certainly help deepen bilateral economic and trade relations.