South East Asian leaders welcome `Go South' policy

Leaders from the South Eastern Asian countries welcomed the government's "Go South policy" during their meetings with Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲), Taiwan's representative to the APEC leader summit held in Los Cabos, Mexico.

The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed their appreciation for the government's initiative on Saturday, whereas leaders from Singapore and Papua New Guinea also displayed keen interest in the policy the previous day.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) resurrected the program in August, encouraging Taiwan's businessmen to invest in South East Asian countries, a move aimed to curb over-dependence on China's cheap labor and vast market.

The program was first introduced by former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) in 1993 after his trip to the region, but it died down when the financial crisis in Asia erupted a couple of years later.

The Academia Sinica head is at the Mexico beach resort to participate in the APEC summit on behalf of Chen.

In addition to attending the leaders meeting, Lee has held talks with leaders from five countries.

During his meeting with the Sultan of Brunei on Saturday, Lee sent regards to the Sultan and informed him that Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Yi-fu (林義夫) will visit his country next month. He also suggested that the two governments increase the number of their official visits.

Lee also suggested that the two countries initiate academic exchanges.

In Lee's meeting with Arroyo, she said she had been to Taiwan many times in her youth, and therefore knows a lot about the country.

She said she welcomed Taiwan's investments in the Philippines, and hoped the two countries would cooperate further.

Lee also met with Mexican President Vincente Fox on Saturday. It marked the second meeting between the two.

Six years ago, Lee first met with Fox, then the governor of Guanajuato State, during his trip to Taiwan.

Lee reportedly offered the Mexican governor advice on how to improve the technological standards of his state.