The proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) will be discussed by Chinese and Taiwanese representatives on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore if the two sides meet, former vice president Lien Chan (連戰) said yesterday.
Lien is President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) envoy to this weekend’s summit. It will be the second consecutive year that Lien has participated in the summit.
As a result of Beijing’s objections, Taiwan’s president is the only head-of-state in APEC that is blocked from the annual summit.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Lien told reporters that informal talks on the ECFA had taken place repeatedly. As senior economic officials from both sides of the strait will be in Singapore, “it is a prime opportunity to conclude the informal phase of the talks to expedite the official phase of the negotiation process.”
Sensitive political subjects such as a peace treaty and confidence building measures between the Taiwanese and Chinese militaries will not be on the table, Lien said. As APEC is an economic forum, it is not the most appropriate setting to discuss such topics, he said.
“The most pressing issue at hand is trade between Taiwan and China, especially considering that ASEAN Plus One will be ready to start next year,” Lien said.
Lien said he was not authorized to discuss beef imports with US President Barack Obama, who will also attend, but said Taiwan must abide by the protocol it signed with Washington and follow the standards of international organizations such as the WTO and World Organization for Animal Health.
Lien leaves for Singapore today and will be accompanied by Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) and Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-hsiang (施顏祥).
The summit takes place on Saturday and Sunday and concludes a week-long APEC forum.
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
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This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park this weekend, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a theme food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances. Pokemon Go Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as photo attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs. Pokemon trainers could also experience the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area. Three PokeStops are to be set up in the park. Trainers are invited to take
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