Newly appointed representative to South Korea Joseph Shih (石定) yesterday said that he would prioritize establishing an economic cooperation agreement with the nation to facilitate Taiwan’s integration into global markets.
The former deputy minister of foreign affairs left yesterday afternoon to take up his new position in Seoul.
“We would like to negotiate an economic pact with South Korea and seek Seoul’s cooperation to facilitate [the two nations’] bids to join the TPP and the RCEP,” Shih said at his inauguration ceremony, referring to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
“That would be the core of my work,” he added.
Shih did not elaborate on his plans for the cooperation with Seoul. However, he said that South Korea has considered further economic cooperation with Taiwan with interest, because it could use Taiwan as a springboard into the Chinese market.
This is the second time that Shih, 61, has been assigned to the Taipei mission in Seoul.
Shih said that he would make time to visit South Korean actor Lee Young-ae to personally extend his thanks for her generosity to a Taiwanese couple whose baby was born prematurely while they were in Seoul in February.
Lee donated about US$100,000 to help the couple, who said they could not afford to pay for their newborn’s medical bills.
Former deputy representative to the US Andrew Kao (高振群) also took office yesterday, replacing Shih as deputy minister of foreign affairs.
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