Taipei has the potential to become a regional financial center, the lord mayor of the City of London — the financial and commercial heart of Britain — said on Thursday, offering Taiwan’s capital a hand in achieving the goal.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of his planned visit to Asia, Lord Mayor of the City of London David Lewis said the British capital was a global financial center because of its hundreds of thousands of talented foreign workers and added that Taipei could become a regional financial stronghold only if it relaxed restrictions on foreign immigration.
Excellent workers are also the reason that Hong Kong and Singapore are globally influential financial cities as they, like Taiwan, lack natural resources, said Lewis, who is scheduled to visit Taiwan from today until Wednesday.
The City of London is willing to share its business opportunities and experience with Taipei, he said.
Located in the eastern part of London, the City is also known as the “Square Mile” owing to its 2.6km² area. The lord mayor is chosen by the City’s livery companies every year and is commissioned to act as an ambassador for the UK’s financial services industry.
Lewis described the Taipei visit as “very important” amid the global financial storm.
During his stay in Taiwan, Lewis is scheduled to visit President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), central bank Governor Perng Fai-nan (彭淮南) and top officials at economic and financial agencies.
Lewis will also deliver two public speeches before leaving Taiwan for other Asian countries, including Japan, Brunei and Singapore.
The Asian tour will mark the last overseas trip of the 61-year-old Lewis — born in Hong Kong and raised in Asia — in his capacity as lord mayor of the City of London before stepping down next month.
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