|
Siew talks about FTA with Japan
HIGH HOPES:
The former premier said in an interview in a Japanese daily that he hopes Taiwan will sign a pact with its neighbor, now that it is a WTO member
CNA, TOKYO
Saturday, Jul 27, 2002, Page 4
| Economic reliance |
| * China became Taiwan's largest export destination in January this year.
* Forty-eight percent of Taiwan's outbound investment goes to China.
|
|
|
While visiting Japan, former Premier Vincent Siew (¿½¸Uªø) expressed the hope that Japan would sign a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Taiwan soon, an interview published by Sankei Shimbun, a leading Japanese daily, said yesterday.
Siew said in the interview that Taiwan is also ready to sign a free trade agreement with China and urged Beijing to enter into talks with Taiwan.
He said he hopes that Japan can sign a free-trade agreement with Taiwan and that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will play a leading role in his idea of an Asian free-trade zone, which will include China and Southeast Asia, to help promote regional economic and political stability.
Speaking on the possibility of signing a free-trade agreement between the two sides of the Strait, Siew said that with both sides of the Taiwan Strait joining the WTO, it is possible for the two sides to also sign a free trade agreement, pointing out that FTA talks have nothing to do with diplomatic relations.
As Taiwan has played a major role in China's economic growth, the signing of a cross-strait free- trade agreement would be significant to both sides, he pointed out.
Siew also touched on Taiwan's growing reliance on the Chinese economy, saying that China became Taiwan's largest export destination in January this year and that 48 percent of Taiwan's outbound investment goes to China.
He said that if Taiwan doesn't seek the opportunity in China to promote its economic growth, its bargaining position in political matters will also likely be diminished. He added that cross-strait economic relations will help ease political tensions.
Siew, who left Taipei for Japan Wednesday, will deliver a speech today on the economic situation across the Taiwan Strait in an international symposium on the protection of East Asian security and on China's economic situation.
This story has been viewed 1924 times.
|
Advertising
|
Print
Mail
wiki links