Taiwan was scheduled to ink a bilateral consultation agreement with Russia yesterday, pushing forward the ex-communist country's plan to become a member of the WTO.
This marks the third time that Taiwan, as a WTO member, has helped WTO aspirants to enter the global economic institution. The first two non-WTO member countries Taiwan helped were Saudi Arabia and Cambodia. It took Taiwan 12 years to win the endorsement of other WTO members before gaining accession to the international body.
Russia's total trade value last year was recorded at US$209.7 billion, making it the world's 17th most powerful trading country. Taiwan, ranked as the world's 15th most powerful trading country, had a total trade value of US$277.9 billion last year.
Because of Russia's impressive economic potential, more than 60 WTO members have asked to conduct bilateral consultations with the ex-communist country. Russia has managed to sign consultation agreements with 15 out of the 60.
Meanwhile, it is likely that US President George W. Bush will ask Chinese President Hu Jintao (
Cross-strait issues are believed to top the agenda of the bilateral meeting between the two. While Bush might ask Hu to consider Chen's offer, Hu is likely to ask the US to develop a "constructive cooperative relationship" based on the "one China" policy and the Three Communiques.
Chen called on China to establish a code of conduct across the Taiwan Strait to safeguard peace and stability during his National Day address on Oct. 10. He raised the issue again one month later.
The 21 member economies of APEC and the media are bracing themselves for the highlight of the annual event -- the two-day informal leaders' summit, or better known as the economic leaders' meeting.
The first press conference held for all leaders was slated for yesterday afternoon. Chen's special envoy Lee Yuan-tseh (
Terrorist threats and global trade talks are expected to be the main focus of the meeting. Leaders will also agree to continue to work towards global trade liberalization and facilitation.
Also see stories:
Chile to give traditional ponchos to APEC leaders
The government is aiming to recruit 1,096 foreign English teachers and teaching assistants this year, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The foreign teachers would work closely with elementary and junior-high instructors to create and teach courses, ministry official Tsai Yi-ching (蔡宜靜) said. Together, they would create an immersive language environment, helping to motivate students while enhancing the skills of local teachers, she said. The ministry has since 2021 been recruiting foreign teachers through the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, which offers placement, salary, housing and other benefits to eligible foreign teachers. Two centers serving northern and southern Taiwan assist in recruiting and training
WIDE NET: Health officials said they are considering all possibilities, such as bongkrekic acid, while the city mayor said they have not ruled out the possibility of a malicious act of poisoning Two people who dined at a restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13 last week have died, while four are in intensive care, the Taipei Department of Health said yesterday. All of the outlets of Malaysian vegetarian restaurant franchise Polam Kopitiam have been ordered to close pending an investigation after 11 people became ill due to suspected food poisoning, city officials told a news conference in Taipei. The first fatality, a 39-year-old man who ate at the restaurant on Friday last week, died of kidney failure two days later at the city’s Mackay Memorial Hospital. A 66-year-old man who dined
EYE ON STRAIT: The US spending bill ‘doubles security cooperation funding for Taiwan,’ while also seeking to counter the influence of China US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law a US$1.2 trillion spending package that includes US$300 million in foreign military financing to Taiwan, as well as funding for Taipei-Washington cooperative projects. The US Congress early on Saturday overwhelmingly passed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024 to avoid a partial shutdown and fund the government through September for a fiscal year that began six months ago. Under the package, the Defense Appropriations Act would provide a US$27 billion increase from the previous fiscal year to fund “critical national defense efforts, including countering the PRC [People’s Republic of China],” according to a summary
‘CARRIER KILLERS’: The Tuo Chiang-class corvettes’ stealth capability means they have a radar cross-section as small as the size of a fishing boat, an analyst said President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday presided over a ceremony at Yilan County’s Suao Harbor (蘇澳港), where the navy took delivery of two indigenous Tuo Chiang-class corvettes. The corvettes, An Chiang (安江) and Wan Chiang (萬江), along with the introduction of the coast guard’s third and fourth 4,000-tonne cutters earlier this month, are a testament to Taiwan’s shipbuilding capability and signify the nation’s resolve to defend democracy and freedom, Tsai said. The vessels are also the last two of six Tuo Chiang-class corvettes ordered from Lungteh Shipbuilding Co (龍德造船) by the navy, Tsai said. The first Tuo Chiang-class vessel delivered was Ta Chiang (塔江)