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.
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