President Chen Shui-bian (
"The Canadian government has gradually shifted its position from tilting toward China to strongly criticizing its human-rights record," Chen said as he met a Canadian parliamentary delegation at the Presidential Office yesterday morning. "It shows the Canadian government has struck a balance between interests and values."
Over the past four years, Chen said the Canadian parliament has passed six resolutions in support of Taiwan's observer status in the World Health Assembly. Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement spoken in favor of Taiwan's "meaningful participation" in the WHO in May and Ottawa has also expressed adamant opposition to China's passage of the "Anti-Secession" Law in March 2005, Chen said.
PHOTO: CNA
The president said he would like to see the Canadian parliament pass a "Taiwan Affairs Act."
A "Taiwan Affairs Act" bill was introduced in the House of Commons in April 2005 by a Conservative member. It copied several provisions of the US' Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), but omitted the TRA's defense clause.
Although "Taiwan Affairs Act" bill was dropped when the Canadian parliament was dissolved in November that year, Chen said that he was appreciative of Canadian lawmakers' interest in Taiwanese affairs.
Chen said he would also like to see the Canadian government increase the number of visits by high-ranking officials and he would like to sign a mutual assistance pact with Ottawa to combat terrorism and international crime.
The Canadian government has granted visa-free status to tourists from Japan, South Korea and Singapore and the president said that he would like to see the privilege extended to Taiwanese.
Chen noted that Taiwan is Canada's seventh-largest source of tourists and Canada ranks fourth on the list of favorite countries for advanced study for Taiwanese students. There are about 15,000 Taiwanese studying in Canada, a number that has increased by about 2,500 per year.
Taiwan enjoys a US$2.2 billion trade surplus with Canada and the president said he would like to see the two countries improve trade ties and economic cooperation.
Taiwan is Canada's 11th biggest trade partner worldwide and 4th in Asia. Bilateral trade reached US$4.6 billion last year.
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