Creating an alliance between Russia's and Taiwan's tech sectors could create a competitive force hard to match globally, the head of a local think tank said yesterday.
"Were the two countries to cooperate in the high-tech field, almost no one could beat the combination," said Wu Rong-i (
"Russia is a world leader in research and development, while Taiwan has one of the most sophisticated high-tech manufacturing capabilities," Wu said.
Wu made the comments at the Taiwan-Russia Economic Forum held yesterday, with representatives from both nations eying ways to bolster bilateral trade.
"Between 1996 and 2000, the total number of patents awarded to Taiwan was only bested by the US, Japan and Germany. In per capita terms, Taiwan is second only to the US," said Wu.
Another pundit supported Wu's proposal.
"Russian industruy produce world-class products, such as the Sukoi jet fighter, for example. No one can deny that," said Chang Chun-hung (
Chang said since the ouster of the KMT in early 2000, both governments have been keen to strengthen trade ties.
"Russian officials have already said that they are very interested in developing an economic relationship with Taiwan," Chang said.
"Relations [between Russia and Taiwan] were blocked by the KMT, which has had a strong anti-Russia bias for 40 years," said Chang. "But since the DPP has taken over, [the opportunity for stronger economic ties] between the two could be improved considerably in the near term," said Chang.
Representatives of the Russian government in attendance voiced optimism that the nation was ready for improved trade relations.
"As Russia's representative, I can say we would like to improve our business and trade relationship with Taiwan," said Alexander Pimkin, deputy representative of the Representative Office in Taipei for the Moscow-Taipei Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission. Russia does not recognize Taiwan diplomatically.
"After President Putin took office there has been significant improvement in the Russian economy ? and, therefore, the future economic and trade relationship is likely to improve over the next few years," said Wu.
"Russia's GDP rose 5 percent in 1999 and 8.3 percent in 2000," said Sergei Sinolnikov-Murylev, deputy director of the Institute for the Economy in Transition.
"In 2001, Russia's GDP is likely to rise another 5.5 percent," said Sinolnikov-Murylev.
Taiwan is currently the fourth largest trade partner with Russia in Asia-Pacific region, Wu said.
Bilateral trade between Russia and Taiwan was US$220 million in 1999 and US$315 million in 2000, respectively.
In 2000, Russia's exports to Taiwan grew by 47 percent, with ferrous and non-ferrous metals, petrochemicals and other commodities accounting for most of that total.
"Russia has plentiful natural resources -- over 70 percent of its exports are natural resources," Wu said. "Companies interested in importing natural resources could turn to Russia," Wu said.
Wu said Taiwan's businessmen should also view Russia as a potential export market.
Thirty-one percent of Russia's imports are machinery and heavy equipment.
"Taiwan could become a major exporter of machinery and equipment to Russia," Wu said.
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