Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Yi-fu (
Lin, who arrived in Thailand Saturday at the head of a 19-member delegation to attend the June 1 to 3 APEC meeting, discussed matters of mutual concern with the top representatives from Thailand, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Mexico in separate meetings.
The APEC trade ministers meeting will formally open Monday. In addition to discussing certain global current events, such as the war on terrorism and SARS prevention, the meeting will also explore several professional trade topics, including biotechnology development, life sciences and corporate management.
WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Tuesday session which will focus discussions on APEC-WTO cooperation.
All the foreign representatives expressed concern about the outbreak of SARS in Taiwan. Lin briefed them on the latest information and assured them that the disease has been brought under control on the island.
In his talks with Thai Minister of Commerce Adisai Bodharamik, Lin said none of the 140,000 Thai workers in Taiwan have come down with SARS.
During his meeting with Philippine Undersecretary of Trade and Industry Thomas Aquino, Lin suggested that the biennial ministerial-level economic conference between the two countries could be changed to an annual event.
The two sides also exchanged views on the establishment of a viable mechanism for coordination between regional trade agreements and the Geneva-based WTO. Private trade organizations from the two countries are scheduled to meet in Taipei later this month to discuss the signing of a Taiwan-Philippines free trade agreement to boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
In his talks with Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister Allan Marat, Lin urged the nation to set up a permanent trade office in Taipei as early as possible to expand bilateral commercial exchanges, particularly fishery cooperation.
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